Swine flu hits Tokyo as cases surge past 10,000

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 20-May-2009 23:59 hrs

A geisha walks past with a woman wearing a facemask in Kyoto, Japan. The global swine flu caseload surged past the 10,000 mark with the crisis escalating in Asia despite stringent efforts to contain the virus.

Gabali told the independent daily Al-Masri Al-Yom that "there is a large possibility" the A(H1N1) virus may reach Egypt with returning pilgrims.

While he could not bar Egypt's estimated 600,000 pilgrims from travelling as such a decision was up to clerics, Gabali said he could "open quarantines and say: no one will return from Saudi Arabia to his home." — AFP

From TODAYOnline.com; see the source article here.