By midday April 27, some 150 Mexicans had died and more than 1,000 were sick in the Mexican capital. In Canada, there were 13 confirmed cases — four in Ontario, four in Nova Scotia, three in British Columbia and another two in Alberta — as of The Register’s press time, mostly from tourists returning from Mexico.

Several tour operators were discontinuing flights to Mexico in the face of what the World Health Organization is calling a potential pandemic. So far, the Toronto and Edmonton Catholic school boards have cancelled all school trips to Mexico.

Rivera celebrated Mass April 26 behind closed doors in the Metropolitan Cathedral for about 50 people who had been permitted to enter. In his homily, he called on the Mexican population to never lose hope and to mutually assist each another during the crisis. He also prayed to Our Lady of Guadalupe for intervention, noting that she had helped during pandemics four times since 1554.

“We beg for your protection and help for quickly overcoming the epidemic that has affected our nation,” Rivera prayed. “Cover us with your cloak; free us from this evil.”

Later in the day, an image of Christ on the cross — known as the “Lord of Health” — was removed from its spot in the cathedral for the first time since 1850 and carried in a procession around central Mexico City. The “Cristo,” as the image is known, has been credited with past miracles, including intervention in an 1850 cholera outbreak.

Much of the swine flu attention has been focused on Mexico City, but the disease has also claimed 10 lives in the north-central state of San Luis Potosi. In Mexico City, as the disease spread, face masks were common, traffic was light and many businesses stayed closed. The swine flu forced the closure of schools and universities throughout the country and even nightclubs in beach areas such as Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.

In Canada, health officials feel they are prepared for infectious diseases after having gone through the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare of 2003 when 44 people died from the disease. Public health officials learned many lessons in dealing with infectious diseases at the time and have plans in place for such scenarios.

The archdiocese of Toronto is monitoring the situation and says it will keep Catholics updated as things materialize.

(With files from Register staff.)