Russian consulate in Mexico suspends work over swine flu fears

MOSCOW, April 28 (RIA Novosti) - The consular section of Russia's embassy in Mexico has suspended its work until May 4 due to the swine flu outbreak that has claimed 149 lives in the country.

"We made a decision to temporarily suspend the work of the consular service of the embassy until the circumstances of the spread of swine flu in Mexico become clear," Russian Ambassador Valery Morozov told RIA Novosti.

According to the embassy, up to 3,000 Russian tourists are currently in Mexico, but none of them have reported swine flu symptoms or asked for help.

"We have received no calls from the Russians nationals," he said.

Over 1,000 people are believed to be infected with the deadly virus in the Central American country.

Forty-eight cases of human swine flu infection have been confirmed in the United States and six in Canada, although there have been no fatalities. The United States has declared a public health emergency.

In Europe, human swine flu cases have been confirmed in Spain and the U.K. Suspected infections have been reported in New Zealand, Israel, Brazil and Australia.

Countries around the world have begun measures to prevent a swine flu pandemic.

The World Health Organization has raised the level of swine flu pandemic alert from phase 3 to 4, implying a significant risk increase, two steps short of a full pandemic.

Saudi Arabia has called for a regional conference on May 9 to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the Arabian Peninsula. Representatives of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar Yemen and the United Arab Emirates are expected to attend.

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