Mexican president, Official Residence
Coordinating swine flu vaccination, treatment and containment efforts between the United States, Canada and the United States will be a priority for the countries' leaders as they meet in Guadalajara to begin this week.
President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Felipe Calderon have promised to issue a joint statement on H1N1 influenza virus response. Large numbers of the swine flu caused by H1N1 infection were first detected in Mexico in April.
Each country has developed separate plans for swine flu response, and all are counting heavily on vaccination. The Canadian government last Thursday announced plans to purchase more H1N1 vaccine than it has residents, and Mexican officials plan to begin vaccination programs in December. In the United States, human trials of vaccine began last week, with researchers and volunteers at the Eastern Virginia Medical School taking part .
Border restrictions and other quarantine-type measures will most likely not be part of the joint response plan, as these measures have proven ineffictive for stopping the spread of swine flu.
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