US News

PANICKY WORLD ILL AT EASE

Churches, bars and soccer stadiums in Mexico City — ground zero of the swine flu pandemic — were deserted yesterday amid a sweeping global panic that had countries scrambling to limit their contact with Mexico and the United States.

GIRLS FEVER NIGHTMARE

SWINE SHOCK A NATIONAL ALARM

Mexico City’s grim-faced mayor said he was even considering even shutting down the capital’s crucial mass-transit system to halt the virus.

“If we don’t succeed in decreasing the number of people infected, we will have to reduce practically all activity in the city,” said Mayor Marcelo Erhad, who ordered the city’s bars and nightclubs closed for 10 days.

Many of the city’s 20 million inhabitants were taking matters into their own hands to avoid getting infected, wearing masks on the streets or not going out at all.

“This is the first time I’ve left the house in two days. I had to get some air,” said Juan Casiano, 39, as he walked through a park. “But I’m going to spend the rest of the day inside.”

Fears were so rampant that instead of attending Sunday Mass, many people in the staunchly Catholic country instead stayed home and listened to services on the radio.

Those who did venture to church called on the country’s patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, for help and followed the advice of the Catholic hierarchy: No hand-shaking at the sign of peace, and take communion by hand instead of by mouth.

Mexico’s other national religion — soccer — also was feeling the effects of the flu. Fans were banned from attending games being played at the massive Aztec Stadium, leaving players to perform in front of empty bleachers.

Canada said it already has six cases of swine flu. New Zealand said it likely has 13 cases involving schoolchildren, Spain said it has seven suspected cases, and Israel had one man under observation for possible infection.

All are believed to involve people who traveled to Mexico or had contact with someone who recently had.

Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan said visitors who came from flu-affected areas, such as Mexico and the United States, with fevers would be quarantined, and China said that anyone experiencing flu symptoms within two weeks of arrival from affected areas had to report to authorities.

In Tokyo, Narita Airport installed a device to test the temperatures of passengers arriving from Mexico.

Italy, Poland and Venezuela advised their citizens against travel to affected areas in Mexico and the United States.

The World Bank warned that a pandemic would cost already battered global economies a total of $3 trillion. With Post Wire Services