国外媒体:亚洲地区严防猪流感（在线收听）

swine flu就是最近颇受关注的“猪流感”，全称为swine influenza，定义为a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs（一种由A类流感病毒引起并在猪中间传播的呼吸系统疾病），此类病毒一般不会传给人类。但是据专业部门研究表示，此次发生在墨西哥的H1N1类猪流感病毒具传染性，而且还会在人类中传播。

人类感染猪流感表现出的症状与普通流感症状相似，如发烧、咳嗽、咽喉肿痛、身体疼痛、头痛、发冷及易疲劳等。还有人感染猪流感病毒后表现出腹泻及呕吐的症状。

至今，影响到人类的动物类流感有bird flu（禽流感）和swine flu（猪流感），普通的human flu（人类流感）还会因季节的变化而出现seasonal flu（季节性流感）。这些flu虽然症状相似，但是传染度和严重程度却大不相同，需要引起人们足够的重视。

China has suspended flights from Mexico in the wake of the outbreak of H1N1, otherwise known as swine flu. Hong Kong authorities confirmed a Mexican man who traveled through Shanghai had the virus. Local governments are tracking down his fellow passengers to quarantine them.

Flu prevention measures are being introduced across Asia. In Myanmar, thermal sensor cameras have been set up at the airport, and health staff are conducting temperature checks on arriving passengers.

There have been sporadic outbreaks across the continent. South Korea has confirmed its first case, a Health Ministry official said on Saturday. The sufferer was a 51-year-old woman who recently returned from Mexico. In New Delhi, three passengers have been quarantined in hospital for symptoms of swine flu infection.

The World Health Organization said although the virus had reached Asia, the spread had so far been limited. Peter Cordingley is the WHO spokesman for the Western Pacific Region.

"A pandemic seems to be imminent, and governments have to get ready for it. And when we say getting ready for it, we mean looking after the health of their citizens. I don't think there are many ways they can stop it coming in. If you look at what happened with this traveler from Mexico to Hong Kong, he walked through health checkpoints in Shanghai and in Hong Kong, and was not spotted."

So far at least 15 countries have reported 615 infections with H1N1. However, new laboratory data showed fewer people have died from the virus in Mexico than first thought. It's a glint of good news for a world rattled by the threat of a flu pandemic.