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Journalism of Courage
France launches campaign
PARIS: France will launch a huge swine flu information and prevention campaign once schools begin reopening at the end of the month. Officials will distribute 12 million posters to parents and students across the country of 63 million people,or roughly to every fifth person,Education Minister Luc Chatel told reporters. Chatel reiterated the authorities intention to order entire schools closed if as few as three students in one class,or three students in one school who share lessons or eat lunch in the same cafeteria,fall ill with the flu. In case numerous schools are closed,lessons will be broadcast on state television and radio to help students keep up,Chatel said. France has had more than 690 confirmed cases of swine flu,but experts expect more outbreaks once the regular flu season starts in autumn.
Robbie Williams sparks scare
London: British singer Robbie Williams caused a flutter when he suggested he may have contracted the H1N1 virus. Off to the doctors to confirm if I have pig flu or not, Williams wrote on his blog. But even as messages from concerned started pouring in,it turned out that the Angels hitmaker only had the common cold. He was just being ultra careful by going to the doctor. He was shooting his video for the new single Bodies last week and picked up a cold on the set, his spokesperson said.
National emergency in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur: With the death toll due to swine flu climbing steadily,Malaysia has termed the outbreak a national health emergency but noted that a health curfew would not be imposed unless the mortality rate went above 0.4 per cent. Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the H1N1 mortality rate was currently between 0.1 and 0.4 per cent in Malaysia. So far,the flu has claimed 64 lives across the country. Liow said stern measures,including a curfew,might be announced if the virus misbehaved.
