In the wake of the swine flu outbreak, which has, according a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), claimed 57 lives in Mexico, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the country is taking measures to reduce the probability of an outbreak reaching its institutions and churches.

Mexico's four major church regions have cancelled church services throughout its 2,571 churches and suspended classes in the 230 Adventist schools and two universities, following the federal government's mandate to shut down large gatherings and all public and private schools through May 6.

"We have sent out information to our [regional administration] and our local pastors and church members to take proper health precautions and wait for further notice on when our churches will resume church services," said Tomas Torres, president of the church in Central Mexico, with headquarters in Mexico City.

Torres said that campmeetings, conventions and travelling outside of the country were also cancelled due to the flu threatening the territory.

"We are taking the necessary measure to be of support if the situation worsens," he added.

The swine flu, a novel A/H1N1 influenza virus, is a strain of influenza in pigs, which shares similar symptoms to the standard flu, WHO health officials reported.

Cesar Gomez, president of the Inter-Oceanic church region, said his membership of more than 155,000 was reminded to take preventive measures to stay healthy.

"We have notified our churches which are mostly structured into small groups to meet with their groups until churches are opened once again," Gomez said.

Similarly, church leaders throughout the country have suspended their church services and events and have sent recommendations to church members to take serious measures and follow the instructions of Mexico's Ministry of Health.

Adventist-owned Montemorelos University (Nuevo León) has also closed its doors to its more than 2,000 students through May 6. School officials said the move is preventative; no cases of swine flu have been reported in the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon.

"We are concerned with a possible outbreak, but the university community here is informed on what precautionary measures to take if symptoms arise and our hospital is serving the community as usual," said university President Ismael Castillo.

Although offices and certain services are operating at the university, church services this weekend will be held behind closed doors and transmitted through the university's television network and the Internet.

Leaders for the church's Inter-American region are following the developments related to the flu outbreak in Mexico, home to roughly 500,000 Adventist Christians.

"We are very concerned with our members in Mexico and have been in constant communication with our church leaders there," said Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America. "Our church leaders have made the necessary decisions for the benefit of our church members and their communities."

The flu outbreak could affect the Adventist church's Inter-American Executive Committee scheduled for next month at its headquarters in Miami. Leito said administrators are considering other options if travel to the United States from Mexico and Central America becomes restricted.

Leadership at the church's world headquarters complex are following protocol and monitoring the development. More than 800 employees work at the building in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. Many of them travel internationally.

"We're taking the necessary precautions here in the building while being sensitive to not raise unnecessary fears," said Orville Parchment, assistant to the president of the world church.

WHO changes flu virus strain name from swine flu

The World Health Organization (WHO), bowing to pressure from meat industry producers and concerned governments, said on April 30, it would refer to a deadly new virus strain as influenza A (H1N1) not swine flu.

"From today, WHO will refer to the new influenza virus as 'influenza A (H1N1)'," it said in a brief announcement posted on its www.who.int/en/ website.

The global body said the number of confirmed cases in Mexico rose to 97 from 26, with seven deaths. The WHO confirmed tally from the United States now stands at 109, with one death.

Other confirmed cases include 19 in Canada, 13 in Spain, eight in Britain, three each in Germany and New Zealand, two in Israel and one each in Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. [Editors: Ansel Oliver and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]