Swine flu death in Mexico increases to 159

MEXICO CITY: The toll from the swine flu epidemic appears to be stabilising in Mexico, the health secretary said late Tuesday, with only seven more suspected deaths. But health officials said they “fully expect” to see US deaths as the virus keeps spreading around the world.

The new virus is suspected in 159 deaths and 2,498 illnesses across Mexico, said Health Secretary Jose Cordova, who called the death toll “more or less stable” even as hospitals are swamped with people who think they have swine flu.