Backgrounder: Key facts about swine flu
MEXICO CITY, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The World Health
Organization (WHO) believes there is no need to close Mexican border despite
over 1,000 cases of human infections with swine flu registered in the country,
Mexico's health minister said Friday.
"There is not any restriction for foreign visitors
who wish to enter Mexico," Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told a
press conference at the presidential house of Los Pinos after talking with WHO
Director-General Margaret Chang on this issue.
Public places in Mexico have been closed to prevent
spread of the virus.
Cordova said the WHO will create an emergency
committee to offer support to Mexico in all aspects.
"Mexico will not have any problem with medicine
supply, since the WHO is sending technical support and medicines," he said.
He added that the Health Ministry has more than 1
million dosages of medication, enough to combat the flu, which has killed 20
people in Mexico.
It has been rare for the swine flu to infect people.
In the United States there have been only three cases of human deaths from the
epidemic, reported in 1976 and 1988 respectively.
Mexico City takes measures against flu
outbreak
MEXICO CITY, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The municipal
government of the Mexico City Friday announced a series of immediate steps to
stop the flu outbreak in the city.
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A man wearing a mask walks past a
Mexican flag in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, April 24, 2009. The
government of Mexico City is launching a massive vaccination campaign
throughout the city against swine flu, which has possibly killed dozens
nationwide. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said at a press conference that
the main aim is to protect all the inhabitants of the city, especially
vulnerable people such as children and elders. Full story
Mexican president holds emergency
meeting on flu outbreak
MEXICO CITY, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President
Felipe Calderon on Friday held an emergency meeting at the Presidential Office
with ministers, health authorities and experts to discuss measures to deal with
the deadly flu outbreak.
Calderon also decided to inform Mexicans about the
nationwide flu outbreak. Full story
Eight swine flu cases found in
U.S.
LOS ANGELES, April 24 (Xinhua) -- One new swine flu
case has been identified, bringing the total number of swine flu cases in the
United States to eight, health officials said on Friday.
The new case was identified in San Diego, about 80
miles (129 kilometers) south of Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP). Full story
China on alert to prevent swine flu
infection
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued an
emergency notice Saturday night requiring people to report flu-like symptoms at
the point of entry when coming from the deadly swine flu affected places.
This is China's latest move in response to the
outbreaks of human infection of Swine Influenza A/H1N1 in Mexico and the United
States. Full story
Hong Kong to enhance surveillance at
boundary control points for Swine
Flu
HONG KONG, April 25 (Xinhua)
-- Hong Kong will step up local surveillance systems at boundary control points
and the public health laboratory in light of outbreaks of human infection of
Swine Influenza A/H1N1 in Mexico and the United States, the Center for Health
Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health of Hong Kong announced on Saturday.
Travelers from the affected places who are found to have
Swine Influenza symptoms at Hong Kong's boundary control points will be taken to
hospitals for further investigation. Laboratory testing for Swine Influenza will
be conducted for patients with influenza-like-illness who had traveled to the
affected places within 7 days before onset of symptoms.Full story
