All Nature’s swine flu coverage is collected on our news special page. These regular updates on The Great Beyond round up the latest from other news sources around the globe.

Is the worst behind us in the current swine flu outbreak? Mexico is preparing to end its H1N1 lockdown by allowing restaurants and cafes to reopen in Mexico City tomorrow.

According to the Independent, libraries, museums and churches will then open on Thursday. Mexican officials do appear to believe the worst is over, adds CNN.

In America Richard Besser, acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says, “So far, the severity of illness we’re seeing in this country is similar to what we’re seeing with seasonal flu. While we’re not out of the woods, we are seeing some encouraging signs.” (NY Times.)

However the World Health Organisation still thinks a pandemic is possible.

Its chief Margaret Chan says that moving to the highest level of the WHO scale – pandemic level 6 – was still on the cards although “we are not there yet” (AP).

She did add that, “Level six does not mean, in any way, that we are facing the end of the world. It is important to make this clear because [otherwise] when we announce level six it will cause unnecessary panic.” (El País, via the Guardian.)

Finally, a Mexican football player has been suspended by his club for expectorating at an opponent and then claiming he had swine flu.

Image: Getty