Too late to stop the spread of swine flu?

LONDON, England - April 28, 2009 - Swine flu has spread to Asia and the Middle East as world health officials continue to foment a sense of fear and panic by suggesting the outbreak cannot be contained.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already increased the global alert level.

It comes as the estimated death toll from the virus in Mexico reached 152.

Swine flu has turned up in at least seven countries and appears to be jumping borders via plane flights.

As many countries intensified airport checks, the WHO stressed that border screenings "don't work" in detecting passengers who may be infected.

"If a person has been exposed or infected... the person might not be symptomatic at the airport," said spokesman Gregory Hartl.

"Border controls don't work. Screening doesn't work."

The WHO said the virus could no longer be contained and raised its alert level from three to four, just two steps lower than the maximum of six. WHO Assistant Director-General, Keiji Fukuda, said this was "a significant step towards pandemic influenza".

But the organization stopped short of declaring a global emergency. "At this time, containment is not a feasible option," said Mr. Fukuda.