Swine Scare

Seems like every year brings a new animal related health scare. This year's pandemic panic comes to us via Mexican pork, and fears of a worldwide health crisis are already starting to affect China's economy.

Xinhua reports: "swine influenza A/H1N1 is a respiratory disease that infects pigs and does not normally infect humans. But sporadic cases do occur, usually for people who have had close contact with pigs."

Slate has posted an article co-authored by beijingkids alum and former Explainer columnist Michelle Tsai on how governments take action against such outbreaks - a scenario reminiscent of the 2003 SARS epidemic.

As of yesterday, at least 103 people had died in Mexico, with another 49 cases reported in other countries.