From correspondents in Americas, 12:01 PM IST

Souvenir hunters hoping for a memento of the flu outbreak now riveting global attention can find one on the internet: a Mexican vendor is selling an epidemic mascot, a small, stuffed toy dubbed Achufy!

'Grab this original blue stuffed toy as a souvenir of the epidemic of 2009,' the advertisement urges, encouraging buyers to 'show it off among your friends and tell your grandchildren of this experience that is unique in history'.

On the online auction and shopping website Mercado Libre, one sceptical shopper asked: 'Is the influenza virus included in the price?'

The stuffed toy, similar to Puffles of the children's website Club Penguin, sells for $24.50.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)