Washington - US President Barack Obama said late Wednesday that there were no plans to close the country's border with Mexico despite a growing swine flu outbreak, but assured the public that his government was doing all it could to contain the threat.

Obama said closing the border was "akin to closing the barn door after the horses are out," as there were already nearly 100 cases confirmed in the United States, including one death.

Geneva - World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan raised the pandemic alert for swine flu by one level to phase 5 Wednesday night in Geneva.

The declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent. It is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region.

"Based on an assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5,," Chan announced at WHO headquarters.

Mexico City - Mexico City said Wednesday that it would compensate workers impacted by restrictions imposed to combat the outbreak of swine flu.

Those hospitalized would also be compensated, government officials said.

At least 159 people have died and 2,498 sickened in Mexico's flu outbreak - these include seven swine flu deaths and 49 confirmed infections from the new virus. Of these, 1,311 people remain in hospital, but most have not yet been identified as cases of swine flu.

Mexico City/Geneva - The number of confirmed swine flu infections in Mexico rose from 26 to 49, with seven deaths as a result of the new strain, according to laboratory results made public Wednesday by health authorities.

There have been 159 deaths and 2,498 infections in Mexico's flu outbreak. Of these, 1,311 people remain in hospital and most have not yet been identified as swine flu cases.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan raised the pandemic alert for swine flu by one level to phase 5 Wednesday night in Geneva.

Mexico City - Mexico's central bank said Wednesday that it expects GDP to contract by 3.8 to 4.8 per cent in 2009, a considerably more pessimistic impact than its previous forecasts that could get worse in the light of the current flu outbreak.

The Bank of Mexico had estimated earlier this year that GDP would fall by 0.8 to 1.8 per cent.

Beyond the severe global financial and economic crisis, the bank said the flu epidemic is an "additional" risk factor that could affect "all levels of productive activity" in the second quarter of the year.

To increase its attentiveness and block up swine influenza virus’ entry into India, the government has began taking desperate steps to battle and contain it.

The administration on Tuesday announced that it would ask drug makers comprising Cipla, Ranbaxy, Natco and Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs to start storing the chemicals needed to create the drug to fight deadly influenza.

Moreover, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would also issue additional passes to health workers in order to check people with flu symptoms at nine airports.