Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Swine flu's ground zero? Residents say nearby farm

Local residents state this is the source of the flu—authorities say that is is not. 

LA GLORIA, Mexico — Residents in this community of 3,000 believe their town is ground zero for the swine flu epidemic, even if health officials aren't saying so.

As far back as late March, roughly one-sixth of the residents here in the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz began complaining of respiratory infections that they say can be traced to a farm that lies upwind five miles (8.5 kilometers) to the north, in the town of Xaltepec.

Granjas Carroll de Mexico, 50 percent owned by Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, Inc., has eight farms in the area.

Swine flu's ground zero? Residents say nearby farm

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