Cases of the H1N1 influenza virus -- "swine flu" -- have now been confirmed in 38 states, and the US Navy announced Tuesday that it is cancelling deployment of one of its ships, the USS Dubuque, due to confirmation of the flu in a crew member.

"We have full confidence that our neighbors will work hard to contain any health threats, as will we," said Eric Sundwall, past state chair of the Libertarian Party of New York and its candidate in the March 31st special election to fill the state's 20th US House District seat. "Inviting trade, tourism and goodwill improves the ability of all countries to respond to pandemics. Border restrictions beyond the exclusion of obviously symptomatic sick people impede that ability and do little or nothing to actually stop the spread of disease."

Sundwall urged Libertarians around the country to "reassert the message of prosperity and peace that good relations with neighbors always foster."

"Common sense and prudent medical practice can contain most of these type of threats," said Ruwart, a pharmaceutical researcher and expert on the health effects of regulation. "It would be irresponsible for government to overreact to emerging health threats. Xenophobia -- and the resulting decrease in prosperity -- is a greater threat to our freedom and health than swine flu."

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