The Associated Press

Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and government officials:

-Deaths: 15 confirmed in Mexico and one confirmed in U.S., a toddler from Mexico who died in Texas.

-Confirmed sickened worldwide, 589: 343 in Mexico; 155 in U.S.; 51 in Canada; 13 in Spain; 10 in Britain; four each in Germany and New Zealand; two each in Israel and France; one each in Switzerland, Austria, China, Denmark and the Netherlands. Mexico is no longer releasing “suspected” numbers; the number of suspected cases was 2,498 before the tally was halted.

-A Mexican tourist visiting Hong Kong becomes Asia’s first confirmed case. About 300 people were quarantined at a hotel where the tourists stayed.

-U.S. confirmed sickened, by state: 50 in New York; 28 in Texas; 17 in California; 16 in South Carolina; seven in New Jersey; six in Massachusetts; four each in Arizona and Delaware; three each in Indiana and Illinois; two each in Kansas, Colorado, Virginia, Michigan and Florida; and one each in Ohio, Connecticut, Kentucky, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska and Nevada.

-Continental Airlines, the biggest U.S. carrier to Mexico, says it will reduce flights to the country by about 40 percent and use smaller planes but will continue flying to all 29 Mexican cities it serves.

-The Marine Corps says two service members are recovering from the swine flu at Camp Pendleton in Southern California.

-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the latest swine flu virus lacks the traits that made the 1918 pandemic strain so deadly.

-The Education Department said that 433 schools had closed, affecting 245,000 children in 17 states. That was about 100 more schools reported closed than Thursday.

-The World Health Organization increases its tally of confirmed swine flu cases around the world to 331 Friday from 257 Thursday. By country: Mexico 156; U.S. 109; Canada 34; Spain 13; United Kingdom 8; Germany 3; New Zealand 3; Israel 2; Austria 1; Switzerland 1; Netherlands 1.

-Mexico’s chief epidemiologist accuses the World Health Organization of being slow to respond to the country’s warning. Dr. Miguel Angel Lezana said his center told a regional branch of WHO about a spike in illnesses April 16 but no action was taken until eight days later.

-The World Health Organization says it will stop using the term “swine flu” to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs. It will instead refer to the virus by its scientific name, “H1N1 influenza A.”

-President Barack Obama, attending a Cabinet meeting devoted to the issue, says he’s “optimistic that we’re going to be able to manage this effectively.”

-Public health emergency declared in U.S.; millions of doses of Tamiflu from federal stockpile being delivered to states; U.S. buying more anti-flu drugs to replenish stockpile. CDC also shipping test kits to state labs so states can do their own testing.

-Scattered cancellations or postponements of sporting events in U.S., including all high school sports competitions in Texas and Alabama state track and field championships. Also canceled: Fort Worth’s annual Mayfest, which usually attracts 200,000 people over four days.

-In Michigan, Oakland University north of Detroit and Mott Community College in Flint said students graduating Saturday will not get the customary handshake when they receive their diploma, as a precaution to prevent the spread of the flu.

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On the Net:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/