April 26, 2009 Swine Flu Update: Oink-Choo!

Sunday´s Update on the Swine Flu Infecting Mexico City and parts of the US

As of Sunday late morning, I would estimate that about 40-50% of people on the street in the DF are now wearing surgical masks. Every employee in the Superama supermarkets wears a mask and, clearly, some restaurateurs have ordered waiters and waitresses to wear them. Other´s haven´t. If eating out, would you choose the restaurant that looks the same as it did a week ago? Or in the one where your server wears a blue mask?

The reality of the threat seems to be sinking in around the city and today, Sunday. It is much quieter out on the street than yesterday.  People are staying home.

This new flu strain was identified by the Canadian epidemiologist, Francis Plummer who has said that a North American flu crossed with an Asian strain to create something completely new.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to determine the global threat level presented by this flu.
• Outside of Mexico, cases of swine flu have been confirmed in California, Texas, Kansas, Ohio and New York. There are cases in several foreign countries including Canada, New Zealand and France.
• At this time, neither the US State Department nor the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that people not travel to Mexico.
• There is not yet a vaccine for the swine flu. However, there are anti-viral drugs available that can combat the disease in people already infected. (This makes this flu different from SARS, when there were no anti-virals to treat the disease.)
• As many as 81 deaths have been linked to swine flu in Mexico. However, only 20 have been attributed directly at this point. More than 1,300 sick people are being studied to see if they have the swine flu.
• So far, all cases of swine flu in Mexico have been found Mexico City, the State of Mexico and San Luis Potosi.
• The government reserves the right during the emergency to quarantine people, search private property, and commandeer transportation lines, as well as several other measures that could prevent the spread of swine flu.
• In addition to stadia, theaters, discos and churches, bars have now been closed in Mexico City. Restaurants, however, remain open.
• School classes will now be suspended until the 6^th of May.
• The Cardinal will broadcast Sunday mass on the radio from a closed church.
• Today´s soccer games in Mexico City will be played in empty stadia, for television only audiences.
• The Mexican government says it has about half a billion dollars available to fight the flu.
• There is no risk in eating pork.