UPDATE 2-First case of flu in South America, it is feared pandemic
03 May 2009 10:15
* Asia is well prepared for flu: ADB economist
* Shares of China
provoke tensions with Mexico * Colombia has the first case in South
(Recasts first case in Colombia and details)
By Pascal Fletcher and Luis Jaime Acosta
MEXICO DF / BOGOTA, May 3 (Reuters) - South America on Sunday confirmed the first case in the territory of the deadly H1N1 influenza, while the world was frightened by a possible pandemic despite the disease appeared to have slowed its spread in Mexico.
The Government said that laboratory tests confirmed infection with the virus in a person returning from Mexico, which is evolving satisfactorily. In the North American country, where there have been so far almost all the fatal cases, the Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordoba on Saturday at night than in the past four days there were no deaths, while confirming that 19 people died of the virus and are investigating the cause of other 121 deaths.
From Bogota, the Colombian Minister of Social Protection, Diego Palacio, told reporters that his country is under medical observation in 108 cases suspected of suffering from influenza.
"The person was the sample that was positive is a patient and many patients and people who are going to have contact with the virus is in good condition, is currently at home with her family, "said the official.
After his appearance in Mexico a few weeks ago influenza was detected in 18 other countries, igniting the worldwide alarm over a possible pandemic that could strike hard at the poorest and most vulnerable social sectors.
The flu outbreak remains paralyzed Mexico City and its surroundings, which have been the epicenter of most of the 506 infections reported by WHO country and where people are already accustomed to living wearing masks.
The Government must maintain closed schools, universities, restaurants, parks and museums, and banning mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the disease.
flu is expected to frighten thousands of tourists from major tourist centers Mexicans, in a blow to an economy already in recession by the global financial crisis.
The World Health Organization has said the H1N1 influenza-virus strains mixing of pigs, poultry and humans, has not spread steadily outside North America, as required before raising the pandemic alert its highest level.
But that probably has advanced to happen soon, leading to dozens of countries to take extraordinary measures for disease control at airports and hotels, and to suspend flights to and from Mexico.
The Government of Mexico has complained that several of its citizens abroad have been abused, especially in China where fifty were quarantined for fear of the disease.
At the same time criticized the decision by countries such as Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador and Peru to ban flights.
In Canada, health officials said one person from Mexico carried the virus, infecting his family and a herd of pigs. Food Inspection Agency of Canada indicated that the herd was quarantined and the safety of food supply was not affected.
However, the WHO said it still expected the result of analysis to confirm the infection.
MEXICAN HELD IN CHINA
The Chinese authorities' decision to confine more than 50 Mexicans on hotels and other venues for fear of spreading the flu caused a diplomatic row with Mexico.
In Hong Kong, the police placed under quarantine at a hotel for a week, after a Mexican guest was diagnosed with the disease. The Mexican government said Friday the move was "unjustified" and advised its citizens to avoid travel to China.
China did not immediately respond to criticism.
Hong Kong is under China's control, but has its own government. The Hong Kong authorities have forced about 300 guests and staff to stay at the hotel.
trade and tourism in Asia could be beaten by the outbreak of influenza, but the lessons learned during the SARS epidemic in 2003 would strengthen efforts to counter the effects, said Sunday Jong-Wha Lee, an economist with Asia Development Bank.
SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, killed over 800 people worldwide in 2003. First appeared in southern China in late 2002 and began spreading in February 2003.
MEXICO DF / BOGOTA, May 3 (Reuters) - South America on Sunday confirmed the first case in the territory of the deadly H1N1 influenza, while the world was frightened by a possible pandemic despite the disease appeared to have slowed its spread in Mexico.
The Government said that laboratory tests confirmed infection with the virus in a person returning from Mexico, which is evolving satisfactorily. In the North American country, where there have been so far almost all the fatal cases, the Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordoba on Saturday at night than in the past four days there were no deaths, while confirming that 19 people died of the virus and are investigating the cause of other 121 deaths.
From Bogota, the Colombian Minister of Social Protection, Diego Palacio, told reporters that his country is under medical observation in 108 cases suspected of suffering from influenza.
"The person was the sample that was positive is a patient and many patients and people who are going to have contact with the virus is in good condition, is currently at home with her family, "said the official.
After his appearance in Mexico a few weeks ago influenza was detected in 18 other countries, igniting the worldwide alarm over a possible pandemic that could strike hard at the poorest and most vulnerable social sectors.
The flu outbreak remains paralyzed Mexico City and its surroundings, which have been the epicenter of most of the 506 infections reported by WHO country and where people are already accustomed to living wearing masks.
The Government must maintain closed schools, universities, restaurants, parks and museums, and banning mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the disease.
flu is expected to frighten thousands of tourists from major tourist centers Mexicans, in a blow to an economy already in recession by the global financial crisis.
The World Health Organization has said the H1N1 influenza-virus strains mixing of pigs, poultry and humans, has not spread steadily outside North America, as required before raising the pandemic alert its highest level.
But that probably has advanced to happen soon, leading to dozens of countries to take extraordinary measures for disease control at airports and hotels, and to suspend flights to and from Mexico.
The Government of Mexico has complained that several of its citizens abroad have been abused, especially in China where fifty were quarantined for fear of the disease.
At the same time criticized the decision by countries such as Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador and Peru to ban flights.
In Canada, health officials said one person from Mexico carried the virus, infecting his family and a herd of pigs. Food Inspection Agency of Canada indicated that the herd was quarantined and the safety of food supply was not affected.
However, the WHO said it still expected the result of analysis to confirm the infection.
MEXICAN HELD IN CHINA
The Chinese authorities' decision to confine more than 50 Mexicans on hotels and other venues for fear of spreading the flu caused a diplomatic row with Mexico.
In Hong Kong, the police placed under quarantine at a hotel for a week, after a Mexican guest was diagnosed with the disease. The Mexican government said Friday the move was "unjustified" and advised its citizens to avoid travel to China.
China did not immediately respond to criticism.
Hong Kong is under China's control, but has its own government. The Hong Kong authorities have forced about 300 guests and staff to stay at the hotel.
trade and tourism in Asia could be beaten by the outbreak of influenza, but the lessons learned during the SARS epidemic in 2003 would strengthen efforts to counter the effects, said Sunday Jong-Wha Lee, an economist with Asia Development Bank.
SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, killed over 800 people worldwide in 2003. First appeared in southern China in late 2002 and began spreading in February 2003.
FEVER PATIENTS WITH LESS
Mexican authorities say they believe the situation with the new influenza outbreak is leveling off, because fewer patients are presenting with severe symptoms in hospitals.
The WHO said that 17 countries have reported 787 infections, excluding reports of confirmed cases in some countries. United States, the second hardest hit nation, has confirmed 160 cases in 21 states.
U.S. officials said they were encouraged by events in Mexico, but added it was too early to calm down. Most infections
outside Mexico have been mild. The only death in another country has been that of a Mexican baby was taken to the United States before they became ill. President Barack Obama
said United States is responding to the new strain of influenza, closing some schools temporarily and distributing supplies of antiviral medications as needed.
Costa Rica on Saturday confirmed a case of H1N1 influenza in its territory, the first reported in Latin America outside Mexico.
Scientists are still trying to assess how the new virus behaves and compare it with the strains of seasonal influenza, which causes between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths worldwide each pipe.
(Additional reporting by Esteban Israel, Anahi Rama and Tomas Sarmiento in Mexico City, Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong, Laura MacInnis in Geneva, Silvia Aloisi in Rome, Allan Dowd in Vancouver and Yoo Choonsik in Nusa Dua, Writing by Pascal Fletcher and Alejandro Lifschitz) MG AZ
RF REUTERS /
COPYRIGHT: © 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content or maintenance releases or similar, Including by framing or similar means algorithms, is expressly Prohibited Without the Prior Written Consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters Sphere logo Are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world
Mexican authorities say they believe the situation with the new influenza outbreak is leveling off, because fewer patients are presenting with severe symptoms in hospitals.
The WHO said that 17 countries have reported 787 infections, excluding reports of confirmed cases in some countries. United States, the second hardest hit nation, has confirmed 160 cases in 21 states.
U.S. officials said they were encouraged by events in Mexico, but added it was too early to calm down. Most infections
outside Mexico have been mild. The only death in another country has been that of a Mexican baby was taken to the United States before they became ill. President Barack Obama
said United States is responding to the new strain of influenza, closing some schools temporarily and distributing supplies of antiviral medications as needed.
Costa Rica on Saturday confirmed a case of H1N1 influenza in its territory, the first reported in Latin America outside Mexico.
Scientists are still trying to assess how the new virus behaves and compare it with the strains of seasonal influenza, which causes between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths worldwide each pipe.
(Additional reporting by Esteban Israel, Anahi Rama and Tomas Sarmiento in Mexico City, Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong, Laura MacInnis in Geneva, Silvia Aloisi in Rome, Allan Dowd in Vancouver and Yoo Choonsik in Nusa Dua, Writing by Pascal Fletcher and Alejandro Lifschitz) MG AZ
RF REUTERS /
COPYRIGHT: © 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content or maintenance releases or similar, Including by framing or similar means algorithms, is expressly Prohibited Without the Prior Written Consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters Sphere logo Are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world
0 comments:
Post a Comment