Swine flu fears go global

A deadly new flu virus is spreading beyond Mexico, sparking fears of a global flu pandemic.

A quarter of the 81 people who have died here have been confirmed as victims of the outbreak, with more than 1300 others infected.

21 cases have now been confirmed across the United States.

Canada has also now confirmed four cases.

Britain, France, Spain and New Zealand have also reported possible cases among people who have recently visited Mexico.

The new flu strain, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu surfaced in 1997, killing several hundred people

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tags: America, Health