| ■ Now more than 140 swine flu cases in US | 2009.05.08 |
| WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama voiced hope Friday that the swine flu virus will run its course "like ordinary flus" as officials reported more than two dozen new cases and scores more schools shut down. The government issued new guidance for schools with confirmed cases, saying they should close for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for seven to 10 days from when they get sick. That means parents can expect to have children at home for longer than previously thought. The Education Department said that 433 schools had closed, affecting 245,000 children in 17 states. That was about 100 more schools reported closed than reported on Thursday. Major U.S. airlines, meanwhile, announced plans to curtail flights into flu-ravaged Mexico. |