Mexico's flu outbreak appeared to be stabilizing today but officials warned the unpredictable virus still threatens a global pandemic, according to Reuters. Mexican officials said hospitals were seeing fewer new cases of people with symptoms from the new swine flu virus and cut the estimated death toll from the outbreak. "It would still be imprudent to say that we're past the worst of it but I do think ... we are in a stage of stabilization," Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told reporters. In addition, Costa Rica, Italy, and Ireland confirmed cases of the virus, which has now been found in 18 countries. In Geneva, the World Health Organization said H1N1 influenza had not spread in a sustained way outside North America, as would be required before the pandemic alert level is raised to its highest level -- but said this would probably still happen. "I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent because we are seeing the disease spread," Michael Ryan, WHO Director of Global Alert and Response, told a briefing. Few are ready to take chances with the new virus, widely dubbed swine flu. In Hong Kong, police quarantined a hotel after a Mexican guest fell ill with the virus, which may have killed more than 100 people in Mexico, the worst hit country. Mexico called the action "unjustified" and advised its citizens to avoid travel to China. Mexican authorities cut their suspected death toll to up to 101 from as many as 176 as more test samples came back negative. Fewer patients with severe flu symptoms were checking into hospitals, suggesting a falling infection rate, and no new deaths were reported in Mexico City in the last two days. The World Health Organization said on Saturday 15 countries have reported 615 infections, not including the later reports of confirmed cases in Ireland, Italy and Costa Rica. The United States, the second hardest hit country, said it had confirmed 160 cases in 21 states. U.S. officials said they were encouraged by reports from Mexico that the outbreak may be leveling off, although they said it was too early to relax. "We are remaining vigilant," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC. "We have seen times where things appear to be getting better and then get worse again ... I think in Mexico we may be holding our breath for some time." Almost all infections outside Mexico have been mild. The only death in another country has been a Mexican toddler who was taken to the United States before he fell sick. President Barack Obama said the United States was responding aggressively to the new flu strain and was closing some schools temporarily and distributing antiviral drug supplies as needed.
