Girls wearing masks to prevent the H1N1 influenza virus are seen at the venue of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, Mie prefecture, central Japan September 11, 2009. Japan's health ministry is set to buy enough H1N1 flu vaccine for nearly 50 million people from British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and Swiss maker Novartis, a Japanese newspaper reported on Friday.
A woman shows a child how to wash his hands with antibacterial gel in Caen, northwestern France in August 2009. The estimated number of flu cases -- including swine flu -- in France has reached epidemic proportions, according to preliminary data.
