Swine flu rebounds in southern Mexico
Friday, 24 July 2009 14:46
Several states in southern Mexico have seen massive increases in swine flu infections in the past few weeks.
Since July 18, H1N1 cases in Chiapas have increased 350 percent, while the figure in the Yucatan is 230 percent.
Meanwhile, in Tabasco, 700 new cases have been reported in the past two weeks and the governor has cancelled the state?s annual fair.
Authorities in the Yucatan have installed road blocks at major entry points to the state in an bid to identify people with flu-like symptoms.
The first cases of the global influenza pandemic were identified in Mexico back in March. Between March 11 and June 11, 12,654 people tested positive for swinbe flu, and 124 were confirmed as having died from the disease.
Unlike many other countries that are currently in the grip of the disease, Mexico took drastic measures to slow the spread of H1N1 - shutting schools, bars and clubs, and cancelling sporting events and concerts. The measure appeared to work, with the number of reported cases falling off after doctors began to make correct diagnosis and give appropriate treatment.
Only the United States has registered more cases and deaths than Mexico.
As of Thursday, July 23, the number of confirmed cases in the state of Jalisco stood at 802, with five reported deaths. Six infections have been confirmed in the municpality of Chapala.
Meanwhile, Mexican health authorities are closely following a big surge in the number of H1N1 influenza cases in Argentina, fearing that a similar pattern will hit Mexico in November.
At least 40 people have died in Argentina, where the virus has infected over 3,000 people in the last month as the southern hemisphere nation goes through its coldest period of the year.
Doctors from Mexico have been studying Argentina?s regional health system for clues as to the ferocity with which the disease might return to Mexico later this year. Many experts expect a ?second wave? of swine flu to hit Mexico when temperatures drop at the beginning of the winter.
Comment