ATLANTA

Flu kills 93 children in U.S., but outbreak may be waning

The nation’s flu outbreak has killed 93 children so far this season but appears to be on the decline, federal health officials said Thursday.

The government said flu was now widespread in 38 states, down from 42 last month. Colorado, which was one of the first states hit hard, dropped from the list of those with the worst outbreaks.

“We are cautiously optimistic that, at least in some parts of the country, influenza may have peaked,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “But there is still plenty of flu out there.”

The flu season in the United States got off to an unusually early and harsh start, raising fears that this could be one of the deadliest seasons in years, especially among children.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. breaks up alleged gold-smuggling ring

One of the largest U.S. gold refiners has agreed to plead guilty to illegal financial transactions that helped South Americans launder $4.5 million, federal authorities said Thursday.

Metalor USA Refining Corp. of North Attleboro, Mass., agreed to a single charge of illegally engaging in financial transactions in excess of $10,000, according to court documents. It agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine and forfeit $423,000 in profits. The company could have faced a fine of $9 million — twice the amount of the disputed transactions.

Metalor, a subsidiary of Swiss-based Metalor Group, blamed the transactions on former employees of its refining division who “initiated business with customers in South America whose activities violated foreign tax laws.” It said it fired those employees in January 1999.

GUATEMALA CITY

Police searching for gang that attacked U.S. tourists

Police set up roadblocks and hunted the countryside on Thursday for a gang that attacked and robbed a minibus carrying U.S. tourists, killing a Utah man.

Police spokesman Faustino Sanchez said, “There is still no one captured.”

Thirteen members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were traveling from the mountain city of Quetzaltenango to the Mexican border Wednesday when five men with automatic weapons intercepted their bus about 120 miles west of the capital.

Most of the tourists were from Ogden and Salt Lake City.