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Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Health recommended the extension of holiday
Esperanza Mart?nez Minister said that cases of influenza and respiratory infections continue to increase and warned that "this week will give many cases because the transmission is geometric."
"Would recommend to suspend classes, but is simply a recommendation," said Health Minister Esperanza Mart?nez, at the risk of transmission of respiratory conditions that could occur in educational institutions.
He recalled that the Ministry of Health recommended the extension of the holidays to avoid unnecessary spread of the virus, but respects the decision of private schools that chose to resume school activities, despite the risk that this entails.
"They argue that, in general, have a population of students from middle and upper class, and supposedly these guys are better, like classrooms. So take that risk of starting well, but it is a matter respect also because we are not a policy maker subject of education, "said the minister.
He said they recognize that the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) and especially the private schools have a scope of regulation and standards that give them autonomy.
"What we do is to interpret the epidemiological situation and the history we have had in relation to the presence of respiratory disease in Paraguay, and recommend follow vacation from that," said the head of the Health portfolio.
SITUATION. Esperanza Martinez explained that the risk remains, because cases of influenza and respiratory infections continue to rise.
"This week will give many cases, because the transmission is geometric, that is, today a group of sick people infect their environment, and for the next week the infected environment expands," he said.
He also said that despite the sun peaking in the morning, temperatures remain very low, so the risk is latent. "Would recommend to suspend classes, but is simply a recommendation," he said.
The minister also indicated that before any severe respiratory symptoms such as high fever, cough with cold, wheezing, chest and scream of a great malaise, will save rest.
CONTAGIOUS. Dr. Ivan Allende, director of Health Watch, recalled that it was the time of movement of several viruses. "The pandemic virus (H1N1) is one more than they are circulating, and tends to be prevalent in older than five years," he said, noting that these are transmitted more easily when cold.
He asked the schools to respect the resting and applying filters supervision.
Yesterday, more schools and subsidized private sector started with the classes, while another group does today. As the holidays are for official institutions.