Nuclear Medicine

The tally of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States jumped Sunday to 244 in 34 states, but officials said that's largely from catching up on a backlog of lab tests.

The swine flu epidemic spread deeper into the United States, Europe and Latin America — and in Canada, back to pigs — even as Mexico's health chief hinted Sunday it may soon be time to reopen businesses and schools in the nation where the outbreak likely began.

As Mexican officials say they're seeing fewer swine flu cases in the country, the city at the center of the international outbreak is starting to show signs that it is coming back from the scare.

Pork, ham and sausages are safe to eat, the World Health Organization said Sunday.

Parents wondered who to blame when two neighboring schools in their small central Minnesota town closed because one school had a probable case of swine flu.