Swine Flu Fears Prompt Quarantine Plans, Pork Bans

Canada became the third country to confirm human cases of swine flu today as global health officials considered whether to raise the global pandemic alert level. Nations from New Zealand to Spain also reported suspected cases and some warned citizens against travel to North America while others planned quarantines, tightened rules on pork imports, and tested airline passengers for fevers.

Governments including China, Russia, and Taiwan began planning to put anyone with symptoms of the deadly virus under quarantine. Others were increasing their screening of pigs and pork imports from the Americas or banning them outright despite health officials' reassurances. "Countries are encouraged to do anything that they feel would be a precautionary measure," said a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization. (More swine flu stories.)