france - the world ' s agencies raced to avoid both a epidemic and global hysteria sunday as more possible swine plague cases surfaced from japan to and orleans and the individual states declared a public health crisis . " it ' s not a time to panic , " the white house said . brazil , the outbreak ' s epicenter with up to 103 suspected deaths , canceled some church buildings and close supermarkets and restaurants . few humans ventured in the grounds , and some took face shields . mexico became the third country to confirm cases , in six people , including some student who — like some nueva england university dawn - breakers — went mildly symptoms in california . places across japan promised to quarantine feverish travelers arriving from flu - affected regions .
As many as 103 people in Mexico have died of swine flu.