UK retailers and publishers are closely monitoring the spread of Swine Flu in Los Angeles ahead of E3 – as the region’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger calls a State of Emergency.

However, the expo’s organiser, the ESA, told MCV this week that the show is “progressing as planned”.
So far State and local officials have confirmed 13 cases of the Swine Flu in California.

None have been fatal, but Governor Schwarzenegger has called the State of Emergency to ‘suspend non-competitive bid contracts for services, material, personnel and equipment needed to respond to this outbreak’.

“The 2009 E3 Expo is progressing as planned,” an ESA spokesperson told MCV. “Public health officials are taking all appropriate steps and we continue to follow their direction on all measures.

“We look forward to a great event, and to seeing you in Los Angeles in June.”

MCV understands that UK execs from publishers such as Activision, EA, Ubisoft, Disney and Eidos still plan to attend the event – but are ‘closely monitoring’ the outbreak.

Retailers are similarly optimistic. An HMV spokesperson told MCV that four members of its games team are planning to attend, but that the firm is “monitoring Government advice” – a statement echoed by online specialist ShopTo.com.

The Hut – which handles the websites of Asda, Zavvi, Tesco and more – told MCV that “Swine Flu has not affected our plans to attend E3”.