International news coverage of the Swine Flu potential pandemic has been cautious as more cases of infections are reported. The World Health Organizations has raised its alert level to phase four, and many East Asian nations have taken precautions, including monitoring foreigners from the United States and Mexico, to prevent the flu from spreading in its territories. So far the flu has killed up to 149 people in Mexico, but no reports of death from the flu have been made else where.

This is a tough international development to judge early on. For one perspective, I think it is critical that we do not over blow the Swine Flu story out of proportions, because that will cause public panic worldwide. At the same time, United States did face a deadly flu pandemic that killed a huge percentage of its population long ago, and experts did say that a similar event will inevitably happen. To be honest, I am not sure what to make out of this story. Government officials throughout the world are on high alert, so there seems to be a lot of preparation going on to meet the most tragic outcome. I hope, like the Bird Flu incidents in China, that this development will be contained quickly.