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04/27/09
Update 04/27/09: Influenza/ Flu in Mexico & U.S.
Filed under: Cancun Tourism, Cancun Swine Flu/AH1N1
Posted by: Dangers @ 7:00 am

*Updated* 07:00 AM EST, 04/27/09*
In breaking news, the European Union Health Minister has asked Europeans to avoid travel to the U.S. and Mexico in a public statement today; “they should avoid traveling to Mexico or the United States of America unless it is very urgent for them.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3ZNCUiVfgylV5zHLtpSyZ25×93wD97QOU4O1

Authorities in Spain have confirmed the first case of related swine influenza…

In a syndicated story, the Health Minister of Spain stated that his office is now reporting one confirmed case of influenza and is investigating 17 other potential cases.

The case is believed to be the first case confirmed in Europe and indicates the virus has made the transmission and jump to  Europe from the North American continent. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5229715/Swine-flu-Spain-confirms-first-case-in-Europe.html

*Updated* 01:00 AM EST, 04/27/09*

Late Sunday night a report from Notimex has quoted the Mexican Health Secretary as stating that over 1600 people have been hospitalized in Mexico City thus far and 103 people are dead from suspected conditions related to the recent influenza outbreak. http://www.sipse.com/nota.php?id=34541

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has intensified measures to deal with
the outbreak. An emergency has been decreed that allows the government
special powers. Those include running tests on sick people and ordering
them into isolation. Canada, the US and Mexico are the only countries with confirmed human cases of swine flu.

The World Health Organization said Saturday that the outbreak in Mexico is a “public health emergency of international concern.”

 

*Updated: 3:00 PM EST, 04/26/09*

Currently, the continuing breaking news on the influenza/ flu situation
in Mexico and the U.S.indicates that the WHO, the CDC and the Ministry
of Health in Mexico are all still investigating the situation. The alerts as of this time remain the same as previous from the WHO:  “The current WHO phase of pandemic alert is 3.”

In Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, there has not been any cases of confirmed swine flu influenza as of this reporting and travel to and from remains as scheduled.

There has been no “No Travel Alerts” Posted as of this time by either the WHO or the CDC for the U.S. and Mexico.

The U.S. President is stated to be convening a meeting today in Washington, D.C. to establish a plan of action for prevention and treatment in the United States. There have been very limited but confirmed reports of swine flu in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas.

*The United States has declared a Public Health Emergency via the Homeland Security Department as of Sunday, April 26, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/26/swine.flu/index.html

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
State # of laboratory
confirmed cases
California 7 cases
Kansas 2 cases
New York City 8 cases
Ohio 1 case
Texas 2 cases
TOTAL COUNT 20 cases
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health OrganizationExternal Web Site Policy.
As of April 26, 2009 9:00 AM ET

A previous press report of a British Airline employee being a possible victim of swine flu after a flight return from Mexico is now confirmed as “not” being swine flu.

There are also reports of a potential but yet unconfirmed, limited outbreak in New Zealand.

*Canada is reporting 6 confirmed cases as of late Saturday evening, 4 in Nova Scotia and 2 in British Colombia.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/04/26/mexico-swine-flu.html?ref=rss

In Mexico City, the influenza outbreak is being taken quite seriously with most public functions being scaled back or canceled as a precautionary measure. Schools in the Federal District have canceled classes until at least May 6, 2009, courts have been shut down, museums and zoo’s closed, and religious services curtailed. The government is issuing hospital style face masks to mass transit passengers and major air terminals are being monitored for passengers with signs of influenza.


Young couple in Mexico City kiss amid flu concerns.
(Courtesy of Yucatan.com.mx)

Currently, over 1300 cases of influenza have been reported in Mexico City with only a handful being confirmed as the new strain of swine flu at this stage though that number may be expected to increase.

 We here at Living on Isla Time caution those reading many of the mass media reports that are filled with limited factual reports and rife with anecdotal information. Please follow respectable news reports and maintain awareness through sites available via the WHO, the CDC, the Ministry of Health in Mexico, and other government health agencies.

A map being updated with flags with areas of confirmed swine flu cases is being maintained here:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=35.924645,-86.484375&spn=15.280401,28.300781&z=5

CDC Recommendations

CDC has NOT recommended that people
avoid travel to Mexico at this time. If you are planning travel to
Mexico, follow these recommendations to reduce your risk of infection
and help you stay healthy. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx

CDC Recommendations

CDC has NOT recommended that people
avoid travel (U.S.) at this time. If you are planning travel to these areas,
the following recommendations will help you to reduce your risk of
infection and stay healthy. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluUS.aspx 

World News Related:

Below is an article, as translated, from the wire services, courtesy of Diario de Yucatan in Mexico, relating the precautions being taken by Mexico’s Latin American neighbors and countries in South America;

Bogota, April
25 (EFE) .- The fear that the epidemic of swine flu that Mexico suffers
from spreading to the rest of America rose today, with the WHO’s
warning that the situation is “very serious” and recognition by part of
the U.S. that it would be impossible to stop the virus.

  From Geneva,
the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a possible pandemic by
swine influenza virus and urged the international community to redouble
its vigilance.

  However, the emergency committee
of the WHO decided not to declare the danger of global epidemic,
although the WHO Director General Margaret Chan warned that “the
situation is evolving very quickly and is unpredictable.”

  In Mexico, where there have been 20
deaths from swine flu and another 40 are being investigated, President
Felipe Calderón announced today by presidential decree that assumes
full control of the state of health emergency in the country.

Mexican Finance Secretary Agustin Carstens said in Washington that it
is “anticipated”, with the information that exists, declare the
outbreak of swine flu in his country “a more epidemiologic event.” warned today that although only eleven cases have been detected in
swine flu in the country, the virus spreads easily and can not contain.

The situation is very serious and we are
very concerned, “said Anne Schuchat, director of public health at CDC,
who warned that the situation in Mexico could quickly move to their
country because the new virus is very contagious easy and impossible to
contain it.

Nine of the eleven cases that occur in the country are concentrated in
the border states of California and Texas and two in Kansas, the center
of the country, but there are a number of ongoing investigations along
across the country.

One is a school of 75
secondary school in the county of Queens in New York, some of whom
recently traveled to Mexico and experiencing the same symptoms as swine
flu, with nausea, fever, dizziness and pain.

  The symptoms of swine flu,
a traditional strain of subtype H1N1 (influenza seasonal) that of
mutual pigs to humans are: fever over 39 degrees, which is so sudden,
cough, severe headache, pains muscles and joints, irritation of the
eyes and nasal discharge.

  The other countries in the region continued today
pending the situation in Mexico and United States yesterday after
activating emergency health plans.

  Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador,
Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panama activated yesterday from
the protocols, which include controls at ports and airports on
passengers coming from Mexico.

Today they were joined by Argentina, Costa Rica, Honduras and Dominican Republic.

 In Chile, visitors must pass through a scanner checking for fever symptoms and those who are directly admitted to hospital for doing more detailed analysis.

  In the
Eldorado airport in Bogota, a passenger from Mexico had to undergo a
medical examination, after presenting some symptoms, but eventually
ruled out any kind of infection.

  The
Brazilian government has established, in addition, an emergency
department to assess the evolution of the outbreak in Mexico and
indicate measures to prevent the virus from entering the country.

  In Argentina, the
authorities issued an epidemiological alert and called on those
responsible for the airline Mexicana, Aeromexico and Delta Air Line to
inform crew and passengers from Mexico and the U.S., if present any
symptoms of swine flu has been reported immediately.

  The region of
Callao, where the main port and airport in Peru, was declared a health
alert today on top to prevent entry of persons carrying the virus.

  Guatemala,
which borders the north by Mexico and by the time the event has not
adopted the measures of prevention and health ministry asked the
inhabitants of border areas that do check-ups if they suspect an
abnormality.

  Nicaragua also restricted imports from Mexico pig,
among other measures, although the Mexican and United States claim that
the consumption of pig products does not entail a risk of contagion.

  In the case of Honduras, health authorities said
the health alert, and President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya, Calderón
telephoned to express their solidarity by the emergency Mexicans living.

  In Europe, the Spanish Ministry of Health asked the pilots of flights
from Mexico to report on any passenger who has symptoms of swine flu,
in addition, aircraft have to carry equipment or protective enough.

Belgian health
authorities decided not to advise against travel to Mexico and now, are
the persons who travel or return to the country on some measures of
prevention.

  Japan also
joined the checks and installed at the airport in Narita a control
system for Mexican flights, where a device will measure the temperature
of travelers.

http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticias/versionimprimible.asp?cx=9$1051040000$4061242


*Updated: 5:30 PM EST, 04/25/09*

Currently, the World Health Organization has set up an emergency
meeting today to discuss the influenza strain in question, Swine
Influenza A/H1N1, and folks traveling should follow their subsequent
reports and announcements. 

April 25, 2009 WHO Meeting Statement: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_20090425/en/index.html

Link to WHO Audiocast: (Note; this one is not recommended for lower speed ISP’s)

http://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/audio/press_briefings/VPC_25APR2009swine_influenza.mp3

Current WHO Status as of April 25, 2009

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090425/FOREIGN/704259992/1001/%27%20admcdfp_sitename%20%27

I think we should be careful not to downplay or make light of the current situation for travel within North America, especially to the areas effected until more knowledge is known of the influenza strain and its risk levels.

On the other hand, there’s no indication that people should be moving towards the other extremes, hysteria or panic styled reactions based on the current reports.

In short, we’re in a wait and see mode, and this is just not a
Mexico situation but currently a North American continent situation.

(Courtesy of Por Esto)

We’re also seeing reports from Mexico that major airports in Mexico, especially those with frequent air links to Mexico City including Cancun have established medical checkpoints though it’s unclear what the criteria being used is and that in Mexico City where the influenza is being taken very seriously, officials are checking mass transit passengers on trains and buses. From the Cancun Airport, there’s been reports of some passengers arriving wearing medical face masks, and reports of a basic medical questionnaire request from authorities though it’s not known as of this time if this is a requirement for all passengers. The reports from Por Esto, a local paper in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo and home to Cancun is that the questionnaire is an eight question request for passenger information regarding basic influenza signs and history.

http://www.poresto.net/quintana-roo/31802-evitan-realizar-escala-en-el-df 

(Courtesy of Por Esto)

In Cancun and all of Quintana Roo, there’s been no confirmed cases
of the new strain of influenza, currently being identified as swine
influenza A (H1N1) or is there a recent record of confirmed influenza
outbreaks in the area.

As per the Center for Disease Control, there’s currently no vaccine for the new strain.  http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm 

There’s also confirmed reports of limited activity of the new strain in both Texas and California.

The main area of the new strain influenza outbreak appears to be in the Mexico City area of Mexico with two other localized events. Keep
in mind the area in and around Mexico City is home to 22 million
estimated people and as of the last reports I’ve seen the outbreak has
reported 800-900 cases of influenza with only a handful currently
confirmed as the “new” influenza strain.

In our opinion we would recommend folks follow the reports available from the CDC and the World Health Organization for future updates. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_24/en/index.html

Other organizations of note: The Ministry of Health, Mexico: http://www.salud.gob.mx/

                                         

Dangers…

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