Sally Furniss
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Chile Reports 46 New Cases of Swine Flu, Now Has 165 (Update1)
By Sebastian Boyd
May 27 (Bloomberg) -- Chile?s government confirmed 46 new cases of swine flu, raising the total to 165, and said the virus is firmly entrenched in the country.
Chile, which reported its first case 10 days ago, is now the fifth-most affected country in the world, the Health Ministry said today in an e-mailed statement.
The H1N1 swine flu now accounts for 90 percent of all flu cases in the country and may be replacing the seasonal flu, the ministry said. Health Minister Alvaro Erazo said authorities will change their strategy for dealing with the virus from one of containment to one of mitigation.
Swine flu ?is circulating widely throughout the country,? Erazo said.
Beginning next month only at-risk patients, such as pregnant women or those with severe symptoms, will be given antiviral drugs, Erazo said. Checks on passengers arriving in Chile?s airports will be ended, he said.
The extent of transmission of the virus in Chile ?doesn?t justify having so many control barriers, because the virus is now here, it?s installed,? he said.
There are fewer cases of seasonal flu than would be usual for the time of year. Swine flu may peak in three or four weeks, Julio Montt, an undersecretary in the Health Ministry, said today.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sebastian Boyd in Santiago at sboyd9@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: May 27, 2009 19:56 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aLw.kL02gX1c&refer=latin_america
By Sebastian Boyd
May 27 (Bloomberg) -- Chile?s government confirmed 46 new cases of swine flu, raising the total to 165, and said the virus is firmly entrenched in the country.
Chile, which reported its first case 10 days ago, is now the fifth-most affected country in the world, the Health Ministry said today in an e-mailed statement.
The H1N1 swine flu now accounts for 90 percent of all flu cases in the country and may be replacing the seasonal flu, the ministry said. Health Minister Alvaro Erazo said authorities will change their strategy for dealing with the virus from one of containment to one of mitigation.
Swine flu ?is circulating widely throughout the country,? Erazo said.
Beginning next month only at-risk patients, such as pregnant women or those with severe symptoms, will be given antiviral drugs, Erazo said. Checks on passengers arriving in Chile?s airports will be ended, he said.
The extent of transmission of the virus in Chile ?doesn?t justify having so many control barriers, because the virus is now here, it?s installed,? he said.
There are fewer cases of seasonal flu than would be usual for the time of year. Swine flu may peak in three or four weeks, Julio Montt, an undersecretary in the Health Ministry, said today.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sebastian Boyd in Santiago at sboyd9@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: May 27, 2009 19:56 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aLw.kL02gX1c&refer=latin_america