Doctors of the World believe that the death toll is much higher

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Source: http://www.clarin.com/diario/2009/07/10/um/m-01956305.htm


Doctors of the World believe that the death toll is much higher
18:43

In a strong complaint, the owner of "Doctors of the World", Gonzalo Basile, warned today that it is "impossible" that Argentina has 82 fatal cases of influenza A, and that figure must be at least tripled.

"It would be such a fatality, but so low that it would be nonexistent," he said at a news conference. In this regard in the country noted that "there is a reliable information system and, in this scenario, it is easier to manipulate data."

The owner of the NGO said that "Argentina would be tripling the deaths given by the Ministry of Health, using the case-fatality rates internationally."

In the same vein, Basile noted that "in Argentina in 2008, we had 1,186,997 cases of influenza-like illnesses and 3,200 deaths from seasonal influenza." "There were 203,504 cases of pneumonia and 262,285 cases of bronchiolitis, which resulted in the death of 19,000 people for acute lower respiratory infections," he argued.

He added that "this means that respiratory diseases were serious last year. And a new virus that causes disease and death, the situation had worsened in 2008."

Javier Meritano, a member of the association, said that "one can speak of misinformation" because "the system is not prepared for a minimum overhead." The system of epidemiological surveillance in Argentina does not work, so the figures are not reliable "he said.

Basile, on the other hand, demanded the "repeal of the emergency decree in 2002 that health was not thought to strengthen public health or to meet the collective needs of the population's health. It was a tool to subsidize the private health sector" .

"We ask the national health emergency in which they work all the country's health sector on diseases affecting the population, including dengue fever and respiratory infections," ended.

 

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Re: Doctors of the World believe that the death toll is much higher

Source: http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2009/07/11/internacional/1247267162.html


EPIDEMIC | Denuncie handling numbers
Distrust in Argentina by the official figure of deaths from influenza A
Doctors of the World warns that victims of influenza A may exceed 240
* The humanitarian organization accuses the government of manipulating the figures

Ramy Wurgaft | Buenos Aires
Updated 11/07/2009 01:06 hours Saturday

Argentina and start removing the protective mask and returned to attend cinemas and nightclubs, where once again sounded the alarm.

The filial argentina Doctors warned the world on the afternoon of Friday, which may be more of the 240 fatalities caused by Influenza A. The figure showed that the perpetrators of this NGO, is three times higher than that recorded the final report of the Ministry of Health. "If they say the authorities are 100,000 people infected by the H1N1 virus, it is impossible that only 82 deaths. This figure defies the basic concepts of statistics and is equal to saying that the sun revolves around the Earth" said Gonzalo Basile, head of the same organization that assisted the poorest Argentines during the dengue outbreak that the country suffered three months ago.

At that time, Doctors of the World reported that the Government did not take the measures outlined to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito, transmitter of the virus. Now back to the barricades, blaming the executive branch of the importance of the new epidemic. At a press conference convened at the headquarters of the agency, Basile noted that political considerations, the government headed by Cristina Fern?ndez is played to the flu. "Prior to the elections (from June 28) the issue was not on the agenda and not, nor is adopted preventive measures," said Basile. "Just as of July 29 Argentines, we learned that influenza is a threat to our health," he added.
Official figures' unreliable '

The doctor Javier Montano, another leader of the humanitarian organization, said that official figures were "very reliable" and demanded the implementation of a reform in the health system so that all citizens are treated equally. The doctor was referring to low-income sectors in and around Buenos Aires and the provinces of northern Argentina. "Until today, each municipality is taking measures at their discretion and that as the virus passes from one region to another," said Montano. On the alleged data manipulation by the authorities, the doctor said that "the same thing happened with dengue and that worries us."

A few hours earlier, the Ministry of Health, Juan Manzur, pointed out that "there is a marked decline in cases, especially in metropolitan Buenos Aires, but warned an increase in the number of consultations within the country." From Ezeiza Airport, where he went to receive a shipment of 100 doses of Flu, Manzur told reporters that the Argentina passes mitigation stage of the virus and that people can look to the future with greater optimism.

 

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Re: Doctors of the World believe that the death toll is much higher

Source: http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/6230

The Cabinet Chief criticized those who say there are more deaths
An?bal Fern?ndez says number of H1N1 deaths reported is accurate


Cabinet Chief An?bal Fern?ndez said that it is not right for "a group of people, of I don't know what kind of doctors, to end up saying that there are more deaths," referring to claims that the death toll due to the H1N1 virus is higher than the Government says.

Fern?ndez signaled that in cases of diseases such as this one, people "have the obligation to report upon it, because you can not hide this information."

He said that in Argentina, "more than 4,000 deaths are caused each year by different kinds of influenza."

"We are dealing with different kinds of viruses. We had received information from the public, information from the WHO at the Health Ministry," Fern?ndez added.

He also said that the Government is working towards fighting the pandemic and signaled that the head of the "Panamerican Health Organization mailed a letter of congratulations for the strategies that are being utilized."

Fern?ndez recognized that there are difficulties but that the Health Ministry is facilitating different areas to treat H1N1 cases.

Finally, he said that "there are more than 1 million treatments in sight, and a lot of work has been done with the resources that we now have."

Health Minister Juan Manzur informed that there are 94 deaths due to H1N1 in Argentina, but the number may be higher because there are cases that are being investigated.