I'm not sure if they're utilised elsewhere in Canada but in certain areas of BC Mexican workers are brought in to work on farms etc. I wonder if this Flu "pandemic" will have a knock on affect on produce and such like.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8019566.stm

Potentially scary stuff or just the usual media short term tidal wave coverage?

Let's put it this way, I'm not going to start worrying about it just yet as 10's of 1,000's die each year from flu normally.

I will though refrain from being unduly intimate with a Pig.

4 confirmed cases in NS

dbd not been on here recently..... maybe that's where he's gone?

two reported cases in Scotland after a couple returned from their mexican holiday!!

have they been confrimed thought it was just a precaution with these 2?

Obama was in Mexico April 16-17 to discuss issues ranging from immigration and security to the global financial crisis with the Mexican President Felipe Calderon. He also told them that the solution to the world economic crisis was to start a pandemic and Mexico would be the lucky country the US would choose to unleash this virus from.

According to the news this morning there were 3 potential cases in the UK, 2 in Scotland and 1 in England. So far the English one has been given the all clear and the 2 Scottish ones are in quarantine BUT are ok and responding very well to treatment and will be perfectly fine.

I just hope the media don't cause mass hysteria. Last night and this morning they're giving a death count quite regularly. Crazy. All deaths have been in Mexico so far it seems and everybody who had the "pig flu" elsewhere have all recovered nicely.

Still, i'm sure you could grab a bargain holiday to Cancun right now

Anyway, my OP was to question the potential affect on some farming in the US and Canada as they tend to use lots of Mexicans. I'm wondering if prices will rise due to slightly more expensive labour if they look elsewhere.

News last night was reporting 6 cases in Canada, 4 back east and 2 in metro Vancouver.

Mexico upped its death toll to just over 100 people according to CTV last night as well.

ooooooooooh I feel dizzy!!

last night on our local news they interviewed a man on his mobile phone from the other side of his (closed) patio door as he has just returned from mexico and has flu symptoms. he said 'they' (no clarification who 'they' were) had posted drugs through his letter box. apparently all flights are being met by 'flu-checkers' to weed out those with symptoms lol.

surreal.

lol at the obama thing though - oh said 'it must have taken gordon brown ages to dream this up, but it's working so far'.

Same during SARS - they post Health officials at airports and check people who seem to have flu-like symptoms, high temps etc.

yeah, I remember the temperature measurement for all passengers at Chinese airports...

Well, it definitely is a concern for WHO, and I would refer to their website for official information (even though it can be hard to access due to high demand)
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

Transmission is thought to be from human to human.

dbd got a 2 wk ban.