italy - the eu ' s governments raced to avoid both a pandemic and mass hysteria sunday as more possible pandemic flu symptoms surfaced from canada to new york and the us states declared a world medical emergency . " it ' s not a time to panic , " the white house said . mexico , the outbreak ' s epicenter with up to 103 suspect deaths , canceled some church services and held markets and stores . few people ventured onto the streets , and some wore faced caps . canada began the only country to confirm cases , in six people , plus some adults and — like some united zealand county spring - breakers — happened violently ill in mexico . countries outside asia promised to quarantine feverish travelers arriving from plague - affected areas .
As many as 103 people in Mexico have died of swine flu.