As of today, swine flu has been observed in Mexico and in the Southern United States. It appears that most of the tourist areas in Mexico have so far been spared (small comfort with the spread potential of this disease).

According to Vancouver Sun, most of the cases and 59 of the deaths were in Mexico City, but three deaths occurred in the central Mexican town of San Louis Potosi. An additional four cases were reported in the Baja peninsula.

According to Noticaribe (in Spanish) health officials in Mexico have reported the death of 40 people in the states of Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi and Mexico.

According to the same Spanish publication above, health officials in Quintana Roo (the province where Cancun is located) have taken precautionary measures at the Cancun airport for patients showing flu-like symptoms.

Some good news: CDC says that two flu drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem effective against the swine flu. Roche, which makes Tamiflu, said the company is prepared to immediately deploy a stockpile of the drug if requested. Both drugs must be taken early, within a few days of the onset of symptoms, to be most effective.

Mexican health officials have said that they have one million vaccines, enough to treat one in 20 people in Mexico city itself, leaving none for other areas.

We are monitoring the situation closely on this blog and will blog news as soon as they arrive.

Latest: areas affected by swine flu (sourc: NPR)