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Swine flu death toll in Mexico climbs to 19


MEXICO CITY: Mexico's confirmed swine flu death toll rose to 19 from 16, health secretary Jose Angel Cordova said Saturday.Some Mexicans have criticized their government for reacting too slowly to the outbreak at first, and now for overreacting in ordering a five-day, nationwide shutdown of all nonessential government and private business. Responding to the attacks, Cordova said: "It's absurd to think that Mexico was putting on a show. I think it's preferable, at a certain moment, to take advanced measures and succeed in containing the problem than to not take them and ask, 'Why didn't we take them?' "The only death outside Mexico has been of a Mexican boy who traveled to Texas, suggesting that the flu strain is weaker than feared.But experts say the virus could mutate and come back with a vengeance.Officials in Texas reported the state had 39 confirmed swine flu cases.

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