Swine flu: Report from Mexico
- April 27, 2009 3:35 PM |
- By Your Voice
Submitted by Yvon Loiselle
About: I'm a teacher in a private school in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico's city of industry.
My report: Last night, the state's sub-secretary of health, along with several top authorities on epidemiology did a panel-style report for citizens of my state. As of today schools across the country — from nursery/daycare through elementary, middle, "prepa" (high) and universities are closed until May 6th.
This decision was made by the state governor, José Natividad González Parás, on Sunday, April 26th.
The economic implications go far, since parents have nowhere to leave their children and many must make the decision to stay home, despite the possible penalty of being docked pay.
Theatres, sports stadiums and other "gathering" venues are closed to try and stem the outbreak in our state of Nuevo Leon. Though there is no mandatory quarantine, citizens are being asked to remain at home, rather than go out into the public. This said, private enterprises are still open and office workers are still currently working.
Pandemic prevention education is being shown on television to wash hands with soap and water, use a surgical mask if possible, (though we are currently experiencing supply shortage in masks) and to stay away from areas where people gather. Airports and bus terminals are supplying masks and all travelers are being asked to fill out questionnaires about their current health. Anyone presenting symptoms is asked to return home, see a doctor or go to the hospital.
It would be interesting to note that this coming Friday is the start of an extended holiday for schools (both private and public) in which classes were already to be suspended until May 6th. This might be seen as good timing on behalf of the Health Secretariat. They figure 7-10 days might break the cycle.
At this time, Monterrey does not have any significant number of swine flu-related deaths. One woman from Escobedo, a bedroom community just outside of Monterrey, died, though there are still questions about the exact cause of her death. Blood tests will confirm this.
At this time, it feels like a forced extended holiday in this warm weather, with the sun shining. Not a ghost town at this time, but it's quite a concern.
Are you in Mexico or are you or someone you know affected by swine flu? Send us your report.
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Comments (15)
sad
I hope to fly back tomorrow to Canada. Was booked 6 weeks ago, no coincedence. However, things are taken seriously here. There are no casualities to my knowledge here in Southern Baja. This peninsula is rather isolated from mainland mexico. Maybe a good thing in this case.
Schools were closed today and when watching a soccer game on TV, it was odd to see no or very few people in the stadium. As said, it is taken seriously and with all the measurments taken, this thing can be turned around soon.
why hasn't anyone got samples from those 149 bodies in mexico if they died of it the real info will be there.
all this hand wringing about these mild cases
is rounding up the useual suspects so the health pros can say "look were doing somthing"
How can be the same thing if it's killing them there and not here?
The reports said those who died in mexico were in their 20's is this true?
Sending hopes for the world's speedy recovery from this current public health crisis. Thank you for your willingness to share the experience so close to your home.
It is believed that "mild" cases were caught early, while those young adults who died here in Mexico may have waited too long to seek medical assistance. You most certainly do have a point about taking samples from the 149 victims. I hope this gets taken care of soon.
We've been here for three weeks and have decided to head home early, not because of flu fears, but because the town has all but shut down. Bars and restaurants have been closed, although some open air eateries are still in operation. There have been no cases in Jalisco or Nayarit, but school closings in other parts of Mexico have prompted fears that students might come for R&R to the beaches and bring the flu with them.
I am personally not looking forward to the flight back to Toronto on Thursday... mostly because we don't know what to expect. In the midst of all the hype and paranoia no one is really divulging what the airport experience will be like, either here in Mexico or the US/Canada. If you happen to have a cough, is it off to the isolation tank with you?
Safe travels everyone...
This is no crisis...let's get some perspective here, people.
EVER SCARY
I have been living in Mexico for a year and a half and 7 months of that time in Playa del Carmen. My family worries a lot about me and want me to come back to Canada and there is apparently financial help for a one way flight. I am working as a teacher at a private school and love my job and where I live and want to continue my life here. Unfortunately, my financial means won't allow me to fly back so I will stick it out dispite the displeasure of my family. Remembering SARS, did we all run out of Canada? Like SARS it will blow over in a few weeks time.
im so sad of that flu
Statistics show that every year the flu generally kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people. Flu is annually in the top 10 of killers in Canada. This year alone in the USA over 12,000 people have died from 'seasonal flu'. I believe this current flu 'epidemic' is being blown out of proportion. We get minute by minute updates on the numbers of Canadians that have it, what, maybe a few over 50 so far? When you get to the nitty gritty of the story the vast majority seem to get over it in a few days and do not even require hospitalization.
So why the panic? When watching CBC news one watches the dramatic announcements of broadcasters counting down until this is a world wide pandemic. If the current numbers of what would appear to be a mild flu creat a pandemic then what does AIDS, Cancer, Heart Disease create!!??
My close relatives have recently returned home from a week long trip to Mexico, to celebrate my cousins marriage. Their return flight was last Saturday, and they said they had no idea there was anything out of the ordinary. They boarded and departed the plane with no questions on whether or not they felt sick. They had no clue, that there was a world wide panic about a pandemic, and didn't know a thing until they read the newspaper the following day! My aunt said to me that she saw a couple of people wearing a mask but, figured it was beacuse they were sick or had alergies, and one camera and reporter, but thought it was for someone famous or about a strike or something. Why are these travellers not informed of the possible spreading of a flu? These travellers should ALL be notified before departing the airplane, and given instruction on how to prevent this. People do not watch TV when they are on vaccation, so how do they expect people to know that they may be spreading the infection to others until it is too late. Look at the Michelle Bossi case. She returned to Vancouver from Mexico after her friend fell ill in Cancun. She was in contact with people on the plane, then took a bus to the ferry then travelled home to Victoria. Days later she fell ill, and when in the hospital, was sent home being told that it was not contageous! She said "I'm annoyed I could have affected other people."
Citizens should be informed and isolated after their trip, not just 'scaned' at the airport.
Mel... I agree with you in all... in Mexico the autorities are so stupid, in the begining of all this they didn't know what to do, and unfortunately, if this happend with the "top circle of autorities" you can figure it what's going on with the rest of them, some of us in the society we are trying to do something about it and i really hope this will stop soon, meanwhile i recommend to all the Canadians (peaople that i really love) don't come to mexico any time soon, at least until May the 15th, so take care everyone !
...I THINK GOD IS ANGRY WITH MEXICO PEOPLE! NO OFFENCE. I FEEL SYMPATHETIC, IM SERIOUS
It is now december and as predicted the h1n1 was a big flop . That is unless you are a big pharma share holder .
I wonder what the long term effect will be for those who made themselves guinea pigs for the 400 million dollare vaccine cash grab . I hope it is not as dangerous as some feel it is.