美国总统奥巴马说,美国政府正全力以赴控制猪流感流行。此前有报导说,美国发生了第一例猪流感死亡。

奥巴马星期三在白宫说,美国正尽力采取预防措施应对猪流感,并密切监视疫情的发展。他敦促卫生部门保持警惕,注意疑似病例,还说如果局势严重,发现疑似猪流感病例的学校可以考虑关闭。

美国卫生官员星期三早些时候宣布,猪流感在美国造成的第一例死亡是墨西哥边界以北的德克萨斯州一名23个月大的儿童。德州官员说,这名儿童来自墨西哥,前来美国探望家人。

墨西哥的疑似猪流感死亡病例已达159人。墨西哥卫生部长科尔多瓦星期二晚上对记者说,有26起确认的猪流感病例,包括7起死亡病例。他说,呈现猪流感症状的1千300多人仍在医院观察治疗。

Mr. Obama said at the White House Wednesday that the U.S. is taking utmost precautions to deal with the outbreak, and is closely monitoring the situation. He urged health authorities to be vigilant about identifying suspected cases and added that schools with suspected cases should consider closing if the situation becomes more serious.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. health officials announced that the first U.S. victim of the virus was a 23-month-old child in (the southwestern state of) Texas, which sits on Mexico’s northern border. State officials say the child was from Mexico and traveled to the state to visit family.

In Mexico, the number of suspected deaths is now up to 159. (Mexican) Health Minister Jose Cordova told reporters late Tuesday there are 26 confirmed cases of swine flu, including seven deaths. He says just over 1,300 people with symptoms of the virus remain hospitalized.