May 4: The Wall Street Journal reports that the A/H1N1 flu outbreak is leading to a potential diplomatic row between China and Mexico. Chinese health authorities are rounding up and quarantining scores of Mexicans — only one of whom is thus far reported to be sick –as they fly in on business and holiday trips.
Update May 5: Mexico charges that China’s actions have been discriminatory. And a Mexican plane is en route to pick up the quarantined Mexicans in Beijing and transport them home, according to Reuters.
Update May 6: According to the AP, a government-chartered jet has landed in Mexico carrying dozens of citizens who were quarantined in China despite having no symptoms of swine flu. First lady Margarita Zavala and officials from the Foreign Relations Department waited to greet the passengers as they deplaned at Mexico City’s international airport just before dawn Wednesday. Authorities did not say exactly how many passengers were on the plane but estimated the number at about 140. Mexico has criticized the quarantine as unfair and discriminatory. Of the 71 Mexicans held at hospitals and hotels in China, Mexican diplomats say none had swine flu symptoms. China defended its measures to block the swine flu virus from entering the world’s most populous nation.
Update May 8: Wall Street Journal reports that Canada is concerned over 22 University of Montreal students with no apparent flu symptoms who were put into isolation after getting off a place in Changhun, Jilin Province.
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