| | |  Health & Beauty | April 2009 
Should I be Worried About the Swine Flu in Puerto Vallarta or Guadalajara?
 Ed Walsh - SF Gay Travel Examiner
go to original
We've all heard the news about the swine flu paralyzing Mexico City but should you be afraid to travel to the State of Jalisco which includes the cities of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara?
The English-language Guadalajara Reporter is reporting this weekend that health authorities have identified 18 people in Jalisco who could possibly be suffering from swine flu. (see below) The paper also reports that one man from Nayarit was likely infected with the flu. Nayarit is the Mexican state on the central West Coast of the country, just north of Puerto Vallarta.
Pam Thompson is a registered nurse who leads HealthCare Resources Puerto Vallarta, a healthcare resource network that serves Puerto Vallarta. She recently addressed the issue in an email. (click HERE to view)
This was written before officials in Guadalajara disclosed that there may be as many as 18 people in Jalisco suffering from the flu. But those are only suspected, not confirmed cases. She has some very valuable advice on how to reduce your chances of becoming infected.
 | Jalisco Takes Action Over Swine Flu as Suspected Cases in Mexico Exceed 1,300
Michael Forbes - Guadalajara Reporter
go to original
Health officials in Jalisco say they have identified 18 people in the state with flu-like symptoms who may be infected with the swine flu virus.
All but one are isolated in their homes, where they are receiving medical attention, officials said at a press conference Saturday.
A 47-year-old man from the neighboring state of Nayarit is being treated in a private hospital. The state governor said it was "highly probable" that he was infected with the virus.
Doctors are awaiting the results of tests to see if any of the 18 are infected with the swine flu strain.
Since Friday, state health department staff have been monitoring passengers arriving at the Guadalajara bus stations and airport, as well the Puerto Vallarta airport. Nearly all workers at the local bus station and airport are now wearing face masks, since the virus can most likely be transmitted via coughing.
Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City on Saturday, Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said the outbreak "still hasn't spread across the entire country" and that reports of flu cases from some states have proven to be erroneous.
Cordova said the cases are restricted to Mexico City, and the states of Estado de Mexico, San Luis Potosi, Baja California and Oaxaca.
More than 1,300 people are suspected of having the swine flu in Mexico, 80 of whom have died. Only 20 deaths, however, have been confirmed as being from swine flu.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the outbreak has the potential to spark the first influenza pandemic in 41 years. The flu combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way scientists have not seen before.
The WHO says that because 11 cases of the strain have been reported in the United States, there is little hope of containing the outbreak. Oddly, all the cases in the United States have been identified in young people, in contrast to Mexico, where the virus has infected almost exclusively the 20-50 year-old age group. No one has died in the United States, where the effects of the virus seem to be less aggressive.
The WHO's pandemic alert level is currently at Level 3, meaning very limited spread of virus from person to person.
On Saturday, President Felipe Calderon gave health workers special powers to enter and inspect private homes, test inhabitants for the virus and isolate them if necessary.
Measures to prevent the spread of swine flu have already been taken in the capital, its suburbs and San Luis Potosi, where all schools will remain closed until at least May 6.
Many professional soccer games scheduled this weekend are being played behind closed doors. Many other events expected to attract large crowds have been cancelled.
Most public buildings, including libraries and museums have taken the decision to close their doors and theaters have cancelled performances. While all the closures have so far been voluntary, Calderon has also given the government powers to order the cancellation of public events.
Late on Saturday, Catholic leaders cancelled Sunday masses at all churches in Mexico City.
Religious services will go ahead in Jalisco and other states, although authorities advise communion wafers to be placed in the hands and worshippers not to shake hands with each other.
Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez said it is not yet necessary to order schools to close or restrict events taking place in the state.
However, the Universidad de Guadalajara announced on Saturday that it will suspend all classes at both its high school and graduate campuses on Monday, April 27 and Tuesday, April 28.
Clinics of the Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social (IMSS) in many Mexican states, including Jalisco, are extending their opening hours and will also attend to people without coverage (including foreigners) who present flu-like symptoms. Authorities urge anyone with flu symptoms to visit a doctor immediately.
Mexican soldiers and Civil Protection officers have been instructed to hand out six million face masks at street intersections in the capital.
According to Mexican health officials, the country has sufficient stocks of antivirals in the case of a widespread emergency - more than one million doses in the public sector, some reports say. The WHO confirms that the the virus is susceptible to the antivirals oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
Two specialists in infectious diseases from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are assisting Mexican health authorities, Cordova said.
Cordova said the first swine flu case in Mexico was identified in Oaxaca on April 13. But despite all the information at their disposal, as late as April 21 health authorities had not issued a public alert over the outbreak. At first, the health secretary explained, deaths in San Luis Potosi and Mexicali were put down to a prolongation of seasonal winter flu. In a press conference on April 17, the federal agency informed the media of "unusual behavior" of seasonal flu, with a three-fold increase over cases compared to this time last year. |  |
Ed Walsh is an Examiner from San Francisco. You can see Ed's articles on Ed's Home Page. |
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us