World gov’ts race to contain swine flu outbreak

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WASHINGTON – Governments are racing to find and contain pockets of swine flu around the globe, seeking to stem both the threat of a pandemic and public panic.

“We’re preparing in an environment where we really don’t know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be,” U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday.

In Mexico, the outbreak’s epicenter, soldiers handed out 6 million face masks to help stop the spread of the novel virus that is suspected in up to 103 deaths. Most other countries are reporting only mild cases so far, with most of the sick already recovering. Cases have been confirmed in Canada — six — and the U.S. — 20 — and other countries from Spain to New Zealand were investigating whether other people with flulike symptoms really have this new swine flu or something else.