A swine flu outbreak in Mexico has killed at least 16 people in the past few weeks. Dozens of more deaths are suspected.

Schools K-university are sending youngsters home and telling them to stay inside if they have the flu-like symptoms.

”We’re dealing with a new flu virus that constitutes a respiratory epidemic that so far is controllable,” Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told reporters late Thursday.

Mexico’s flu season was supposed to be over by now, but then Mexican official have noticed a significant spike in flu cases.

The World Health Organization is reporting some 800 cases of flu-like symptoms in Mexico. Most of the sick are healthy young adults. There were 57 deaths in Mexico City and 3 in the central part of the country. At least 16 deaths are from swine flu, and said another 45 were under investigation.

Mexico is particularly worried because flu typically kills infants and old people. But pandemic flus often strike young, healthy people the hardest. And this is the kind of flu that is happening now.

Looks like a different kind of border control will be called for if Mexico can’t contain this, eh?

Read more about swine flu.

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Mexico City’s water monster, an Axoloti salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), is about one foot long (30cm).

According to scientists at the Chapultepec Zoo, the monster is about to go extinct because its lake habitat is draining, the water quality is deteriorating and non-native fish species started eating its eggs and larva, and competing for its food.

The Muppet-looking critter is also known as the “Mexican walking fish” and holds a key part in Aztec legend and diet.

“If the axolotl disappears, it would not only be a great loss to biodiversity but to Mexican culture, and would reflect the degeneration of a once-great lake system,” says a biologist at the Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM.

The monster appears in American legend as well – Ogden Nash writes, “I’ve never met an axolotl, But Harvard has one in a bottle.” Pretty soon, the only ones we’ll see will be those in a bottle.

One look at the spectacular pictures that are captured in the depths of the Crystal Cave of Giants, 1,000 ft below the Chihuahua Desert in Mexico and you will be left dumbfound to describe this amazing wonder hidden deep in the heart of the planet.

The scene is very similar to a scene from the flick “The Core”, where a set of scientists stumble upon an amazing crystal mine miles below earth’s surface. The difference though is that this cave is not that deep down and there have been no tragedies in here so far like in the movie. But the visual magnificence of the 170 giant, luminous obelisks is unmatched even by Hollywood.

It’s a breathtaking visual delight, uncovered by two brothers drilling in the Naica Lead and Silver mine. The caves were found at a depth of over 1000 feet deep into the crust and it takes a twenty minute drive into the mines to get to the entrance of these shining beacons in Mother Nature’s secluded abode.

The crystal caves though are no structures of cool ice as they are made out of calcium silicates and other minerals which have been formed by gentle cooling of magma around 6000 years back. The temperatures in here can reach steamy 112F, with a humidity of 90-100 per cent.

If you are planning a trek into these beautiful depths, then a backpack with ice-cooled air is a must. For now though, it is sealed to prevent people from nabbing away the beautiful treasure. Wonder if this is the actual home of Superman… Could be!

Image by Carsten Peter @ NationaGeographic – via DailyMail

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Obesity levels in China are rising fast or at least that’s what a recent study published in the July/August issue of the journal Health Affairs, said. More than a quarter of the adult population started eating more and more meat and dairy products which lead to serious health problems.

“What’s happening in China should be seen as a marker for what is going to hit the rest of the developing world if we fail to act,” said study author Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina.

“We need to find the right investments and regulations to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, or we risk facing higher rates of death, disease, and disability and the related costs,” he added.

Because people’s diets have changed over the last few years and they’re no longer rich in vegetables and carbohydrates and the Chinese no longer engage in physical activities they’re doomed to get fat and to die of cancer and coronary heart disease.

Among developing countries, Mexico is the only one to have more fat people than China. Can you imagine a fat world? That’d really be a disaster.

I still have a question though. Why is Buddha fat?