DHS declares swine flu emergency
WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Sunday it has declared a public health emergency in a bid to stop the spread of a swine flu virus.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a White House press conference she made the declaration to free up funds to fight the virus' spread, adding the government has moved to release one-quarter of its stockpile of anti-virus medications Tamiflu and Relenza.
Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, said his agency has confirmed 20 non-fatal cases of swine flu within the Unites States, including eight cases found among New York City high school students. The other cases were detected in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and seven in California.
"This is moving fast but we view this more as a marathon," Besser told reporters. "We do think that this will continue to spread, but we are taking aggressive action to minimize the impact on people's health."
Napolitano called the declaration of a public health emergency "standard operating procedure" and said she'd rather call it a "declaration of emergency preparedness."
"We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size of seriousness of this outbreak is going to be," she said.
Besser indicated that the U.S. cases were identical to the swine flu that has been hitting Mexico, where 81 deaths were deemed "likely linked" to the new strain of the virus with more than 1,300 reported ill, CNN reported -- noting 22 students and three teachers in Zealand, who returned from a trip to Mexico, may be infected with the virus.
Canada, South Korea and Japan have issued travel notices or tightened restrictions and the Hong Kong government said certain travelers would be confined to a hospital if they arrive in Hong Kong with a fever and signs of respiratory illness. China and Russia have established quarantine procedures, and some countries have banned pork imports from Mexico -- despite assurances from health professionals that the flu is not linked to food products.
The World Health Organization said although the outbreak is "a public health emergency of international concern," it will wait until Tuesday to decide whether to elevate the alert level, The New York Times reported.
The CDC said it has deployed experts to Texas and San Diego County and Imperial County, Calif., for epidemiologic field investigations. All the U.S. patients have recovered or are expected to.
The viruses contain a unique combination of gene segments not reported previously among swine or human influenza viruses in the United States or elsewhere.
UAW agrees to concessions with Chrysler
DETROIT, April 26 (UPI) -- Autoworkers agreed Sunday to accept contract concessions with Chrysler LLC, a condition of more U.S. government financing for the automaker, officials said.
The deal between the United Automobile Workers and the company includes an alliance with Italian automaker Fiat SpA, The New York Times reported. Details of the agreement were not released, although it reportedly cuts Chrysler's payments for retiree health care.
The 26,000 UAW members working for Chrysler are expected to vote on the concessions by Wednesday.
"We recognize this has been a long ordeal for active and retired auto workers, and a time of great uncertainty," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said. "The patience, resolve and determination of UAW members in these difficult times is extraordinary, and has made it possible for us to reach the agreement we will present to our membership."
The Canadian Auto Workers Union said its members overwhelmingly approved cuts in benefits Sunday.
Police chief slain in Mexico border town
PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico, April 26 (UPI) -- A retired Mexican military official hired to probe corruption in the police force of a border town has been assassinated, officials said.
Col. Arturo Navarro Lopez -- hired this month to purge the Piedras Negras, Mexico, police department of drug cartel influence -- was gunned down early Saturday by assailants wielding assault rifles as he drove near his home, Mexican officials told the San Antonio Express-News.
The slaying came three days after about 70 patrol officers in the town, which is across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas, went on strike to protest Navarro's efforts, the newspaper said.
Navarro, named to the Piedras Negras job April 7 as part of Mexican President Felipe Calderon's initiative to battle police ties to drug cartels, vowed in taking the post that he would "in no part permit corruption." He reportedly fired three high-ranking police officials April 17.
The Express-News said U.S. law enforcement officers convened an emergency meeting Saturday in Eagle Pass after learning about the assassination.
Pakistan, Taliban battle in Lower Dir
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 26 (UPI) -- Pakistani soldiers battled Taliban militants Sunday in the Malakand Agency, suggesting the government has become more aggressive, military officials said.
The Interior Ministry reported that 30 militants and one government paramilitary were killed, The New York Times reported.
The fighting was the first since the Taliban effectively took control of Buner last week. The district is only 60 miles north of the capital, Islamabad.
Dir is adjacent to the Swat Valley, where the government recently allowed the Taliban to impose Shariah law in return for a peace deal.
"Enough is enough. We have decided to flush them out," Interior Minister Rehman Malik said in an interview with Geo television. "The peace accord was linked to peace. When there is no peace, there is no use for that accord. I appeal to the Taliban to lay down their arms. There is no other option for them."
The government used helicopter gunships and artillery in Sunday's fighting. An official told the Times the next step is to go after the Taliban in Buner.
