Swine flu fear seizes the US-Mexico Border

It was a false alarm: four cases suspected to be Swine Flu in Juárez were ruled out by Chihuahua state lab in Chihuahua City this week, but the border area is under the grip of fear nevertheless. Schools in Juárez are closed as a precautionary measure until May 6. The virus is believed to have killed 152 people and sickened nearly 2,000 others in Mexico.

All schools in El Paso remained open. Health officials, however, ask parents not to send their children to school or day care if they have flu symptoms: high fever, lethargy, headache, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Local health officials are on "high alert" according to the El Paso Times. There have been no cases confirmed in the area; San Antonio, Texas reports three cases.

In further preventative measures, Juárez nightclubs and sports facilities will be closed until further notice. Mexican health authorities have issued recommendations against people greeting each other in public with kisses, hugs and handshakes since these acts could transmit the virus.

The streets of Juarez are visible emptier today and authorities on the international bridge remarked off the record that traffic has been slow all day. The line entering the U.S. was only 10 cars in length an El Paso visitor from Juarez remarked. Face masks are starting to appear on the Juarez streets.

Concerns over the swine flu prompted the Monday afternoon announcement that the Juarez Indios vs. Cruz Azul soccer match this Saturday would be closed to fans. Playing games without fans is cutting into revenues of Mexico's 18 first-division soccer clubs.

Dr. Luis Gerardo Castellanos, an epidemiologist, closed out news briefings yesterday by saying El Paso seemed no more at risk than any other city: "Being at the border, so far, is no different, nor implies any additional risks, which is good," the El Paso Times reported.