It may finally be the beginning of the end for the H1N1 outbreak in Mexico, as Mexico City’s mayor has reduced the flu virus threat level a notch with no new cases discovered in the past week.

The Guardian:

Mexico City lowered its swine flu alert level from yellow to green late last night as the mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, claimed residents could “relax” as there had been no new infections for a week.

Ebrard said the change meant the risk of contagion was low, the situation was under control and the images of countless people wearing blue surgical masks around the city could be consigned to history.

There’s no longer any need to wear masks, Ebrard said, adding: “Now you can come to the city without any risk.”

With fears of an immediate global pandemic fading, Japan, where there have been almost 300 swine flu cases, also relaxed rules amid fears that the strict regulations could harm the economy and put needless restrictions on the public.

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