The Discovery of the 2009 A/H1N1 Pandemic - Mexico: April 17 New Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

[Shiloh]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Source:http://www.diariodespertar.com.mx/Agenda/9035-Oaxaca-sin-gripe-aviar.html

Oaxaca, sin gripe aviar
23/04/2009 04:00:00 Luis Ram?rez / Staff DESPERTAR

Google translation:
Oaxaca, not bird flu
23/04/2009 04:00:00 Luis Ramirez / Staff WAKE
Take the Health Services Oaxaca preventive measures, said Martin Vasquez Villanueva. Decontaminate the area of Civil Emergency Hospital, there is no epidemic, say

The National Center of Epidemiological Surveillance and Disease Control confirmed that in Oaxaca there has been no epidemic or outbreak of Avian and explained that in Mexico there are no recorded cases of this disease.
The agency acknowledged that in March and April 2009 has been observed in the country increased the number of cases of seasonal influenza, which is unusual since, in previous years, the peak of disease has been presented in December.
Reported that, according to the laboratory, the virus circulating in Mexico is not avian influenza, is an endemic virus that causes outbreaks every year. In addition, there have been some outbreaks of rapidly evolving severe pneumonia in adults of reproductive age.
In this situation, the National Epidemiological Surveillance reported that the National Health System launched an operation in the country intensified epidemiological surveillance.
He noted that respiratory infection, influenza virus, affects the entire world population with seasonal outbreaks. This is generally a mild infection, however, can cause serious complications in susceptible individuals (persons with respiratory diseases or with previous chronic illnesses and seniors).

The case
Last Thursday was admitted to Civil Hospital "Dr. Aurelio Valdivieso "in this capital, Mar?a Adela Guti?rrez Cruz with symptoms of cough, fever, color, headaches and breathing problems, which are characteristic of pneumonia, but with the difference that day that was treated with medication including antibiotics, never had a favorable response, "which is not the case with pneumonia," until finally, three days ago, died.
In this case of atypical pneumonia and died Mrs Maria Adela Guti?rrez Cruz, aged 39, reported the results of laboratory diagnosis were negative for avian influenza.
For its part, the National Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (Indre) revealed that, according to the results obtained in the Laboratory of Respiratory Viruses, samples sent by the State Laboratory of Public Health in Oaxaca were negative for influenza A and B, Parainfluenza types 1,2 and 3, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza types A and B, and Metapneovirus coronavirus.


Negative results
"According to the diagnostic algorithm was established by a panel viral immunofluorescence, and molecular testing for some respiratory viruses. The results obtained so far are described as negative, "said Indre.
Meanwhile, the head of the Health Services in Oaxaca, Mart?n V?squez Villanueva, reiterated that what happened in the Civil Hospital "Dr. Aurelio Valdivieso" is not a case of Avian Influenza, warned that so far no evidence epidemiological support that may be concerned that the suffering of this evil from Asia.
Therefore, he said, the Health Services of the state of Oaxaca (SSO) are conducting a decontamination throughout the area of emergency medical service, but was assured that the initial state epidemiologists did not want to pay due attention to case.

Various diseases
Vasquez Villanueva reported that until the 15th epidemiological week have been reported in the state a total of 75 outbreaks in six health jurisdictions.
Explained that type of diagnosis, outbreaks are more frequent acute diarrheal disease with 21 cases, chickenpox, 18 cases, viral hepatitis type A, 14 cases; probable enterovirus infection (hand-foot-bit), and 7 cases of dengue fever 8 cases.
The official explained that the outbreaks are spread over 45 municipalities, 24 of the Valleys, 7 of the Isthmus, 3 Tuxtepec, 2 Coast, 5 and 4 of the Mixteca de la Sierra. The cases relate to the Health Services of Oaxaca, ISSSTE and IMSS-Oportunidades.

Under surveillance
Therefore, the National Epidemiological Surveillance Committee met in special session on Thursday April 16 to define a tactical plan and intensify epidemiological surveillance.
It instructed all units of the epidemiological surveillance of the country to implement the following operational plan:
Supervising person of any age who had fever, cough and headache accompanied by rhinorrhea, coryza, arthralgia, myalgia, prostration, odynophagia, chest pain, abdominal pain, nasal congestion, because they could be infected with influenza.
They will also have to define the acute respiratory distress syndrome from pneumonia; everyone present feeling of difficulty breathing, accompanied by fever, cough, chest pain and polipnea (rapid breathing).
In cases in which a death from acute respiratory distress syndrome due to pneumonia, which will notify all cause death is acute respiratory distress syndrome from pneumonia.

 

[terrafirma]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: posting # 139.. what city had acting city Crown Attorney Guy D. Simard been to? We have not be given that information, but wondering if that is how the Canadian Gov't became aware of the problem..

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...mexicoillnessupdate0423/BNStory/National/home


Canadians returning from Mexico warned of illness
CAROLINE ALPHONSO

Globe and Mail Update

April 23, 2009 at 12:40 PM EDT

Canadians who have returned from Mexico within the past week should be on alert for flu-like symptoms connected to a severe respiratory illness than has killed 20 Mexicans, health officials say.

Allison McGeer, an infectious-diseases expert at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, said that Canadians who have been back for two weeks need not worry. Those back for about four days and are feeling sick enough to go to the hospital should let doctors know they were in Mexico. "If you've got a cold, you don't need to worry about it. It's just a cold," Dr. McGeer said.

The Public Health Agency of Canada contacted health agencies across the country to put them on alert for possible infections. The respiratory illness in Mexico resulted in 20 deaths in the first three weeks of April, and has hospitalized many others.

Dr. McGeer said the affected regions appear to be Mexico City and San Luis Potos?. The cause of the illness has not been confirmed. Dr. McGeer said the cases could be seasonal influenza.

"Pneumonia and influenza are the third most common cause of death, and 60,000 Canadians die every year. So we're talking about 20 deaths in the last three weeks in Mexico, which has considerably more people than Canada," Dr. McGeer said. "This is not to say that when you hear this you don't get panicky and worried." But she cautions that there is no reason to be worry.

Before the 2003 SARS outbreak, Mexico, like other countries, would have investigated the incident, but not alerted other countries. Lessons have since been learned. Dr. McGeer said health officials are constantly on alert for the next pandemic.

"One of these alerts is going to be the beginning of the next pandemic. Does this sound like that's what it is? Probably not. Can I guarantee that? Well, no," she said. "Something's going on, and until we sort out what it is, all of us need to be watching for it and trying to figure it out."

There's no reason for Canadians to change their plans to travel to Mexico, Dr. McGeer said.

 

[Cygnet]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

This comment needs to be emphasized; its implications are overwhelming.

In regards to the estimated 500,000 infections, that may be a mistranslation. I'm not sure if it's saying 500,000 or more than a thousand 1000 (mas de mil) plus the original 500, in the context of the article. 1000 plus 500 would be triple the infections, also, which is referenced earlier in the same article.

My Spanish is very rusty. Maybe someone else could check that? There's a HUGE difference there.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

In regards to the estimated 500,000 infections, that may be a mistranslation. I'm not sure if it's saying 500,000 or more than a thousand 1000 (mas de mil) plus the original 500, in the context of the article. 1000 plus 500 would be triple the infections, also, which is referenced earlier in the same article.

My Spanish is very rusty. Maybe someone else could check that? There's a HUGE difference there.

Thanks. I just copied the English translation from the post. I corrected my post. It should be 1,500, still a threefold estimate.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

"Ahorita nos están vacunando y están dando permisos de una semana a los empleados que están enfermos; pero esto ya se volvió una epidemia y creemos que si esto sigue esta semana podríamos tener a más de mil 500 contagiados", manifestó.

My translation - and I am rusty too - is:

Now we are vaccinating and they are giving permission for a week leave to workers that are sick: but if an epidemic is returning, we think that the following week we will have more than one thousand five hundred contagious.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

500,000 = quinientos mil

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Canada, Mexico: Severe Respiratory Illness (SRI) Advisory Date: April 21, 2009.

Severe Respiratory Illness (SRI) Advisory Date: April 21, 2009

[Full PDF Document at this LINK. EDITED.]


From the office of the Medical Officer of Health


SRI Context:


The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has advised us of two recent situations of severe respiratory illness that remind us of the need for ongoing SRI surveillance and response. The first is in south and central Mexico where clusters of severe respiratory illness are occurring, with a high case fatality rate.


Individuals primarily affected are healthy young adults 25-44 years of age, including some HCWs.

Some cases have tested positive for influenza A and B.

The second situation involves the detection of two unrelated cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) in children in California ? the cases have recovered and did not require hospitalization. Human cases of avian H5N1 influenza continue to occur in Egypt, China and Vietnam (25 to date in 2009).

We are being asked by PHAC and Alberta Health & Wellness to continue to carry out surveillance for SRI as outlined below.


Phase Level: No Change
Pandemic Phase 3, SRI Phase 0

SRI Case Definition:
? Respiratory symptoms including history of fever >38?C and new onset of cough or breathing difficulty, with severe illness progression (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), encephalitis or other severe and life-threatening complications) and no alternate diagnosis within the first 72 hours of hospitalization;
AND
? A positive response to one of the following questions:
o ?Did you travel outside of Canada in the past 10 days?? OR
o ?Do you live with or were you in close contact with someone who has a similar illness and who traveled outside of Canada in the 10 days before he/she became sick??


Reporting Requirements: No Change
Emergency Departments, acute care facilities, urgent care centres ? Please report all suspect SRI cases to the Medical Officer of Health on Call at (403)264-5615 for further investigation and management.


Laboratory Rule-Out/Rule-In Tests: No Change
Notify receiving laboratory and arrange urgent transport of specimens, marking them as high priority with positive travel history. Copy all results to the Medical Officer of Health by fax (403)955-6755.
? NP Swab (Aspirate): Order Respiratory Virus Panel (DFA, NAT) on ProvLab requisition. Send in M5 Viral Transport medium (pink) that is stored at room temperature.
? Blood: Order Aerobic/Anaerobic Culture on CLS requisition. Order Mycoplasma IgM (collected in SST tube) on ProvLab requisition.
? Sputum: Order Gram Stain, Aerobic Culture on CLS requisition; order AFB (if indicated), Legionella on ProvLab requisition.
? BAL (if clinically indicated): Order Gram stain, micro C&S on CLS requisition; order AFB (if indicated), Legionella culture, Respiratory Virus Panel (DFA, NAT), CMV and HSV culture on ProvLab requisition.


Infection Control Recommendations: No Change
EMS Setting: Droplet and Contact Precautions
Acute Care Facility Setting: Droplet and Contact Precautions
For patients presenting with fever and cough:
? Advise to: cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; do frequent hand hygiene; stay 1 metre distant from others in waiting room (or isolate in private room); wear surgical/procedure mask if isolation not possible
For patients with fever/cough and more severe respiratory symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath), ask about:
? travel outside Canada within the last 10 days, or
? contact within last 10 days with a person with a similar illness who had traveled outside of Canada in the 10 days before they became ill.
If Yes to either question:
? Isolate immediately - negative pressure isolation is not required. If unable to isolate immediately, ask patient to wear a procedure/surgical mask and to minimize contact with others by staying 1 metre (3 feet) away from them.
? In addition to standard practice, staff in direct contact with the patient should don appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for organisms spread by droplet and contact:
? Gloves, gowns, mask. [Procedure/surgical masks are considered adequate for routine care. N95 respirators should be used by staff for aerosol-producing procedures (e.g., intubation, bronchoscopy)].
? Hand hygiene must be done before and after use of gloves.
? Eye protection should be worn as standard practice to prevent exposure to respiratory droplets.


Additional References:
? Public Health Agency of Canada Travel Advisories: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/pub-eng.php
? Nasopharyngeal Swab Collection: (videos on how to collect these specimens are available at http://www.provlab.ab.ca/education.htm). Information sheet is at http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/moh/pdf/throatswab_collection_instructions_version2.pdf
-
-----

 

[Cygnet]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

"Ahorita nos están vacunando y están dando permisos de una semana a los empleados que están enfermos; pero esto ya se volvió una epidemia y creemos que si esto sigue esta semana podríamos tener a más de mil 500 contagiados", manifestó.

My translation - and I am rusty too - is:

Now we are vaccinating and they are giving permission for a week leave to health care workers that are sick: but if an epidemic is returning, we think that the following week we will have more than one thousand five hundred contagious.

Thanks, Florida. I wasn't sure on that. I was trying for optimism ... I have a pretty good Spanish vocabulary, but the word order sometimes gives me fits!

Meh. We'll know in a week or so, yes?

-- Leva

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hKrwlM2yh12pNDe6_7gtuplU31Fw

Doctors warned to look out for illness in tourists returning from Mexico

38 minutes ago

TORONTO ? Public health units and medical officials across the country have been warned to be on the lookout for illness in Canadians returning from Mexico.

The warning follows reports from the country of cases of severe respiratory illness, which in some cases has led to death. A spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada says Canadian authorities are aware of the reports and are looking into them.

And the Pan American Health Organization - the World Health Organization's Americas branch - is also working with Mexican authorities to look into the reports.

The illnesses are said to have been occurring in south and central Mexico.

A warning to health officials says the cases, which have largely involved young, previously healthy adults, start as flu-like illness and rapidly progress to respiratory distress.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

From post #95 "13 of the 20 deaths were in the Federal District, four in <st1:state w:st="on">San Luis Potosi</st1:state>, two in <st1:state w:st="on">Baja California</st1:state> and one in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Oaxaca</st1lace></st1:state>."

Deaths from this infection are widely spread across Mexico. See map below.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Thanks, Florida. I wasn't sure on that. I was trying for optimism ... I have a pretty good Spanish vocabulary, but the word order sometimes gives me fits!

Meh. We'll know in a week or so, yes?

-- Leva

What we are looking for is exponential growth.

 

[Diane Morin]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

<H4 class=tguindo>23-Abril-2009 </H4>

Oficial: La Influenza ya es un brote epid?mico

Jaime Contreras

(12:17 p.m.)

La alerta preventiva nacional se mantendr? el tiempo que sea necesario, consider? la SSA


Tras reconocer que la influenza ya se constituy? como un brote epid?mico, pero no llega a categor?a de pandemia, el secretario de Salud, Jos? ?ngel C?rdova, admiti? que a?n no tiene los datos de muertes a nivel nacional, pero que esta enfermedad infecto-contagiosa apenas ha afectado a siete estados del pa?s.


El funcionario se comprometi? a mantener la alerta preventiva en todo M?xico el tiempo que sea necesario hasta que el n?mero de casos de influenza se aten?e diametralmente.


Ratific? que en menos de un mes perecieron 20 personas por este mal y desminti? los datos del IMSS sobre el particular, porque las 22 muertes detectadas el fin de semana fueron causadas por males respiratorios, pero no necesariamente por influenza.


C?rdova Villalobos adelant? que ya se consiguieron medio mill?n de vacunas m?s contra esta afecci?n destinadas a los trabajadores del sector salud; insisti? en que la poblaci?n no debe abanicarse, pero s? estar alerta ante eventuales contagios; y consign? que se estudia a fondo el por qu? la enfermedad est? atacando con fuerza a la poblaci?n joven, entre 25 y 45 a?os de edad.
</SPAN>egc

</SPAN>
http://www.exonline.com.mx/diario/n..._la_influenza_ya_es_un_brote_epidemico/578517

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

A Video - How to Wash Your Hands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBN3i...eature=related




Cough and Sneeze in the Sleeve of your Arm -

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...15984097771637

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Post 158 - Google translation

Official: The Influenza is an epidemic

Jaime Contreras

(12:17 p.m.)

The national early warning will remain as long as necessary, the SSA considered


Recognizing that the flu is already established as an outbreak, but does not reach level of a pandemic, Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova, admitted to not yet have data on deaths at the national level, but infectious-contagious disease hardly affected seven states.


The official pledged to maintain preventive alert throughout Mexico as long as necessary until the number of cases of influenza were diametrically ease.


Confirmed that at least a month 20 people were killed by this evil and denied the IMSS data on this, because the 22 deaths identified during the weekend were caused by respiratory disease, but not necessarily for influenza.


Cordova Villalobos said he already got half a million more vaccines against this disease to health workers, insisted that people should not fan, but be alert to possible infection, and appropriated to be studied in depth why the disease is striking with force to the young population between 25 and 45 years of age.
EGC

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Thanks Muscade and Vibrant62 -

"..pero que esta enfermedad infecto-contagiosa apenas ha afectado a siete estados del pa?s..."


"..but this infectious - contagious disease has affected just 7 states in the country.."


There are 31 states in Mexico plus the Federal District ( Mexico City ).

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Source: http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/04/23/9221806.html

Docs warned to look for ill tourists returning from Mexico
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Last Updated: 23rd April 2009, 3:02pm

Public health units, quarantine officers and medical practitioners across the country have been warned to be on the lookout for illness in Canadians returning from Mexico.

The warning follows reports from that country of cases of severe respiratory illness, which in some cases has led to death.

Mexican authorities have insisted the outbreak is not an epidemic and that preventive measures are being taken to reduce the risk of transmission of disease. Mexican authorities have informed Canadian counterparts about the situation.

?We are aware of the reports and are looking into them,? said Andrew McDermott, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada.

A spokesperson for the Pan American Health Organization ? the World Health Organization?s Americas branch ? said PAHO is also working with Mexican authorities to look into the reports.

?We?re co-operating with (Mexican) authorities on it,? Donna Eberwine-Villagran said from Washington.

?We have people in our field office in Mexico City and also in our border office working with Mexican authorities looking at the cases.?

The illnesses are said to have been occurring in south and central Mexico and involve mainly young, previously healthy adults. Some reports have suggested health-care workers have become ill.

Health authorities have been told some of the cases have tested positive for influenza, but some cases are influenza A and others are influenza B.

Dr. Arlene King, whose appointment as chief public health officer for Ontario was announced on Thursday, said an intensive epidemiological investigation is underway in Mexico to determine what, if anything, is going on there.

In the meantime, she said, Canada must be on the alert.

?We absolutely have to remain vigilant in the country around the situation in Mexico and globally,? said King, who is going to Ontario from the Public Health Agency of Canada, where she has been director general of the centre for immunization and respiratory infectious diseases.

?We need to be prepared for any emerging infectious disease threat that may occur outside of our borders. It?s absolutely fundamental,? she said.

King has been the federal agency?s point person on pandemic influenza planning.

An advisory from Toronto Public Health to health professionals said that given the severity of the illness, health care workers should be actively looking for cases of severe respiratory infection in people who have been in Mexico in the previous two weeks.

But the advisory stressed that there is no evidence the infections are caused by an unusual pathogen or a novel flu strain.

Mexican health officials held a news conference Wednesday to discuss the situation, putting the surge in illnesses down to end-of-season flu activity.

Mauricio Hernandez Avila, the undersecretary for health prevention and promotion, said the health department had initiated an active search for cases of serious pneumonia associated with the illness in the country, especially in the federal district that encompasses Mexico City.

 

[Blue]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Is it just me or is it not odd that there is no word of concern, no mention of this from any US public heath officials?

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Source: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...o_illness_090423/20090423/?hub=TorontoNewHome

Canadians told to be on alert for Mexico illness
Updated: Thu Apr. 23 2009 2:51:43 PM
CTV.ca News Staff

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...o_illness_090423/20090423/?hub=TorontoNewHome

A mysterious and "severe" respiratory illness has surfaced in parts of Mexico and may be affecting some Canadians who recently vacationed there.

Canadians who have recently returned from Mexico are being warned they should be on alert for flu-like symptoms that could be connected to the illness, says an advisory sent by the Public Health Agency of Canada to health services across Canada.

PHAC contacted health and quarantine services on April 17 to inform them that Mexican health authorities had advised Canada of possible infections. PHAC has told Canadian quarantine services to be on alert for travellers returning from Mexico showing signs of illness.

The mystery illness has infected hundreds in south and central areas of Mexico, according to Mexican health officials, killing some and leaving others on ventilators. The Mexican health secretary has issued a national alert, following reports of numerous influenza deaths in the first three weeks of April.

The flu-like condition has so far affected healthy young adults between the ages 25 and 44. The victims showed influenza-like symptoms that progressed to "severe respiratory distress" within five days. Some health care workers have been affected.

Health officials say some specimens collected from the patients have tested positive for influenzas A and B.

The illness appears to have infected hundreds in south and central areas of Mexico, but not the tourist areas on the coast. According to a report in a Spanish-language newspaper in Mexico, the regions affected include: the capital region; San Luis Potos?; Oaxaca; and Baja, California.

At this point, no cases have been confirmed outside of Mexico. The Pan American Health Organization, the Americas branch of the World Health Organization, says it is working with Mexican authorities to monitor the situation.

Anyone who has returned from Mexico within the last two weeks and is suffering the following symptoms should contact a physician:

* fever
* cough
* sore throat
* shortness of breath
* muscle and joint pain

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Neil Rau tells CTV Newsnet that it appears that the illnesses in Mexico are simply seasonal flu illnesses, though virological and epidemiological studies are being conducted.

"In a few days, we will have more information after more lab tests are done," he said.

"The outstanding question is whether this is a more severe form of the garden-variety flu. The word pandemic certainly isn't being used yet. And a 'new virus' is not coming into the vernacular yet either."

At a press conference Wednesday, the Mexican undersecretary for Health Prevention and Promotion, Mauricio Hern?ndez ?vila said that while this year's flu season is stretching into April, the flu cases do not appear to indicate an epidemic. He noted that the cases appearing in young people may be a consequence of the fact that many of these people did not get the flu shot, which is typically given to children and the elderly, the highest risk groups.

Rau says he doesn't think this illness report should deter any Canadians from travelling to Mexico, but they should consult a travel health clinic at least six weeks before they travel.

"At this point, people going to Mexico should think about getting the flu shot, if they haven't had one already. But I don't think there is any preventative measure they can take unless Canada issues a travel alert saying not to go."

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Re: Mexico: Respiratory Illnesses - Including Mexico City & Oaxaca

Is it just me or is it not odd that there is no word of concern, no mention of this from any US public heath officials?

Nor has ProMED commented.