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I would like to make this more professional, but now is simply not the time. Things are moving to quick to worry about perfect journalism, please understand. I will also be updating this post at least twice a day.
It is 11:00 p.m., Sunday, April 26, 2009. At this time 103 people have died with symptoms to Swine Flu and more than 2000 have been tested and or isolated for further study . The world bank has designated a $205 million dollar loan to Mexico, with $25 million to be released immediatly for medicine and diagnostics purposes. President Calderon has annouced by Wednesday, Mexico will count with specialized laboratories for domestic testing of samples which will lessen the time needed for diagnosis and treatment.
Public meetings, day cars, all schools from elementary to University, private and public have been cancelled until May 6, 2009. It may or may not be prolonged. Many public parks and pools have already been closed. It has not been made official, but would appear it will be by tomorrow that all political campaign activities for the July elections will be cancelled.
Sunday Mass was canceled in Mexico D.F. and surrounding states although the Church will remain open to individuals. Other states were allowed to have Mass, but advised there would be no traditional greetings ( kissing each cheek or handshakes) amongst eachother, communion wine, and the communion ostion wafer would be placed in each followers hand instead of the mouth. U.S. Embassies and Consulates have suspended labor and will not be releasing or receiving applications for any visas.
President Calderon has given a special decree authorization to S.s.a, Mexico's Department of Health ,which grants them entrance to any home or establishment in effort to prevent or combat Swine Flu. They have full power of isolating and/or restricting movements of those with symtoms of the flu.
Health officials are in bus stations and airports checking incoming and outcoming passengers for symptoms. If a passenger is found with symptoms, samples will be taken on site to be submitted for testing. Each person is to use a mouth cover.
Symptoms in Mexico are said to be:
- Lethargy, loss of appetite, cough, flem, dry throat, nasal secretion, headache and body ache, nausea, vomitting, diarreah: All symptoms may or may not include a fever of 101- 103.
-Lesser common initial symptoms are stomache pain and chest pain or heavy chest feeling which may or may not be accompanied by other symptoms in the initial phase.
Personal prevenative measures are:
- Cover mouth in public, avoid closed public areas: cinema, metro, bus, restaurants, etc.
- Drink fluids, eat foods with high Vitamin C and A content: Pineapple, papaya, carrots, lime, lemon, tomato, etc.
-Wash hands ofton with antibacterial soap and use antibacterial gel when in public after touching money, telephones, door knobs, etc.
- When sneezing or coughing for any reason, cover mouth and nose with tissue, dispose of tissue in tied plastic bag after use.
The use of surgical mouth covers is NOT used for simple air contagion. It is said the Swin Flu virus is 40 nanometers, very capable of passing thru a mask. Contagion is sai tobe passed by the aerosal type spraying caused by sneezing and coughing and then touching the hands and other people or items. If a mask is not available use whatever you can, just cover your mouth and nose.
Antivirals have been sold out, including over the counter medicines such as Theraflu. Pharmacies are announcing they will not be restocking as they are for exclusive use for the ill until further notice.
Medical students are being asked to volunteer and may be "drafted" into public service brigades to assist in detection and prevention.
I will continue updating.
UPDATE: 2:35 p.m. MONDAY, 27 APRIL 2009:
Official death toll update: 149
Schools and daycare in ALL 32 states of the Republic have been closed per order of the S.s.a.
Public health states as of April 13, hospitals have admitted 1,995 patients with symptoms of grave pnuemonia, of which 1,070 have been treated successfully and released.
Secretary of Employment , Javier Lozano, on Monday has requested that businesses and employers must give understanding to the situation and employees who may be absent due to sickness and/or prevenative measures. He has stated that an official national work suspension is not being contemplated.
At least 5 states have officially announced the closing and suspension of all public events, cinemas, parks, theaters, and zoos.
The Governor of Mexico, D.F. is considering the suspension of all public transportation, but has there has yet to be an official announcemet.
In high tourism areas such as Tijuana and Acapulco, recreationals, nightclubs, and bars are closing.
UPDATE: 7:05p.m. , Monday, 27 April, 2009:
San Luis Potosi: 12 deaths, 83 detected with virus.
Statistics of deceased in San Luis:
All were between the ages of 19-49 EXCEPT one 76 year old:
66% of all infected are MALE.
Tamaulipas has confirmed it's first death, 2 have died, but one was confirmed to have died from Influenza type A, not swine flu.
27 have been officially hospital admitted due to te virus.
Update: 11:56 p.m., 27 de Abril, 2009
I.M.S.S. , Mexican Institute of Social Insurance, is offering prevantive measures and/or treatment to all family members and those with close relations of patients with flu induced pneumonia.
All museums in the nation have been closed.
The world organization of Animal Health has requested the virus name be changed from Swine Flu to North American Flu as it has not been confirmed to come direct from swine. It has also requested more investigation as to how the virus is spread or if it is direct result from swine to know if "biosecurity" and mass vaccines should be prepared for animals. Addition stated was it is most import as simple confirmation would inact a suspension of all swine products from affected areas which would greatly reduce further illness.
The Mexican military has run out of surgical masks in Mexico D.F.. : 6 million masks were handed out by the Department of Defense and almost 2 million were handed out by the Marine Department/Navy.
Hidalgo has confirmed 13 people infected throughout the state.
Health officials are examining all people (family, lawyers, prisoners, services, etc.) before allowing entrance to prisons.
Hospitals are becoming restricted areas: Only close family who are symptom free may visit. All visitors will be examine by health officials first.
Morelos is closing daycares, cinemas, theaters, pools, bars, discos, restaurants, and malls until May 6.
Queretaro is closing all government offices and state run offices with exception to Civil Registry and Town Halls.
GlaxoSmithKline from London has delivered 100,000 dosis of the antiviral Relenza at the petition of the government of Mexico state.
Mexico state has suspended/closed amusement parks, recreational parks, resturants, bars, discos and court houses. More than 2700 establishments have been closed to date. All visitation to prisons have been cancelled until May 1 or further notice. Mexico, D.F. is considering a complete suspension of work and public transportation. Executive decisions are said to be made on Monday.
the Federal Government has announced there are no plan to stop national economic activities, close borders, or prohibit international flights.
Update: 4:38 p.m., Tuesday, 28 de Abri 2009
WHO may raise virus to level 5
Mexico, D.F.
Correction:
Restaurants in Mexico D.F. may still operate, but ONLY for take out:
Establishments that do not abide, will be shut down completely.
Mexico D.F. has a created an intital fund of $150 million m.n. to lend financial support to the ill, families and small businesses affected.
3 new deaths have been reported in Mexico, D.F., 31 new patients have been admitted to hospitals, and 14 patients have been discharged after being successfully treated for virus.
89 people still remain hospitalized with the virus confirmed in D.F..
The Deparrtment of Health will be constantly monitoring families of the deceased and infected.
San Luis Potosi:
12 deaths confirmed:
The state has began chemically sanitizing parks, plazas, malls, airport, police stations, markets and all med centers, clinic s, hospitals, and public areas in efforts to disinfect. It will also include all public telephones, bank ATM, and more. The campaign will continue indefinitly.
Nuevo Leon:
18 ill:
12 confirmed and hspitalized.
6 unconfirmed and restricted to home by S.s.a until exam results
Update on Symptoms and incubation:
Original reports stated one of the symptoms was a cough with flem
New reports state: Dry cough: flem or feeling of flem may be felt in chest, but cough is DRY.
Incubation is still not completely known: The peak of the virus seems to be 1-7 days with symptoms presented by the 4th day.
Additional prevention:
Drink 50 % more fluids than normal
Do not take aspirin
U.S.-Mexico Border:
Borders ARE open, but officials are inspecting all who cross. Persons with flu symptoms will be sent directly to Health Department for further testing.
Note: It is still being debated, but studies seem to point that the typical Influenza type A vaccine used worldwide, DOES offer some immunity to the Swine virus. It will not protect completely, but seems to minimize symptoms of the new swine virus.
Update: 2:221 a.m., Wednesday, 29 April, 2009
Mexico's Secretary of Health , Jose Angel Cordova, has announced 2,498 registerd cases of grave atypical pneumonia across the nation.
National death toll: 159
150 additional results will be available today.
Additionally Cordova stated from the 16- 25 of April the cases showed increase, from the 25th of April to date the amount of cases are slowly beginning to decline.
Nuevo Leon:
34 new cases have been admitted to hospitals: Results pending.
53 total.
Political candidates have ceased campaigns and began public health "crusades", handing out prevenative information, face masks, and antibacterial gels.
National Politics:
Lower House suspended all interparlament reunions and national or interntional travel for all represenatives.
Mexico City:
Over 3000 sidewalk food vendors have been shut down: Restaurants are only allowed to serve take out.
5 million new face masks have been ordered.
General director of Mexico City's "central de abasto", food supply market, guarenteed there is no food shortage and regardless of what citizens are seeing in supermarkets, there is no shortage in any products. He also extended the offer for any citizen to buy direct from the Central distribution market.
Hidalgo:
10 new cases of suspected Swine Flu hospitalized
196 cases suspected of non established Flu pending results.
Government ha suspended all levels of burocractic labor until at least May 6th.
Baja California:
At least 6 cases have been admitted to hospitals in Mexicali and Tijuana, results pending.
Guerrero:
19 cases have been admitted to hospitals. In state examinations have confirmed Influenza Type A, but patients will not be discharged until cultures sent to Atlanta Georgia and Canada discard Swine Flu.
Tamaulipas:
38 registered cases with symptoms:
Ciudad Victoria:4
Tampico:4
Matamoras:1
Ciudad Mante:12
Nuevo Laredo: 1
Reynosa: 17
death toll: 2, with only 1 thought to have been caused by swine flu.
Results pending
Michoacan:
3 confirmed cases
2- boys aged 16 and 17 in Morelia
1- 28 year old woman from Urapan
All three are out of danger, but remain in hospital
-results pending
Sinaloa:
Medical inspections have been placed on the states borders with of Durango, Sonora and Nayarit to review all passengers for flu symptoms who enter the state by vehicle.
Prison visitations, Children's day festivites , theaters, and the Canacintra Expo have been canceled
I.M.S.S.
Mexican Institute of Social Insurance has deployed medical brigades throughout the nation to help in monitoring, re-enforcing proper hygiene, and combat the swine flu virus. They will be meeting with infected families to offer monitoring and further investigate the origin off infection. The will also help in the ongoing monitoring of family members and those who were in close with the infected. They have also stated they have no shortage of antivirals for the ill in any of their family medical centers.
Update: 7:26 p.m, Wednesday, 29 de Abril, 2009
WHO:
-alert raised to Level 5
-States not enough evidence to declare Swine Flu a pandemic
- 148 confirmed cases of Swine Flu throughout the world, NOT including Mexico
- Swine Flu virus confirmed in 9 countries
World:
- Egypt ordered the extermination of all 300,000 + swine as a preventative measure. No reports of flu sited to date.
- Ecuador restricts all flights to Mexico for 1 month
- EU nations oppose cancelation of all flights to Mexico
- Japon has cancelled visas for Mexicans to travel to Japan. It urges all of it's citizens to abandon Mexico at once. All passengers entering Japan from Mexico are having their temperature checked as well as monitored for symptoms as a prevantive measure.
U.S.
-1 st Swine Flu death: 23 month old baby from Mexico who was vacationing and visiting with family in Brownsville when became ill. Child was transfered to Houston Hospital on April 23, where he died.
- CDC is recommending antiviral before and after treatments Americans travelling to Mexico, also for personel who live or work on U.S.-MEXICO borders, health officials, and the armed forces.
- Pentagon announced one U.S. marine in Twenty Nine Palms is in quarentine with room-mate awaiting exam results-
Nuevo Leon:
-67 suspected cases
In the morning, 65 cases were pending results of which 63 where negative: 65 new cases where admitted for testing this afternoon.
Mexico City:
- One new death reported: Death toll: 26
- Government will pay $50 m.n./per day to each waiter/waitress affected by the close of restaurants
Hidalgo:
-28 people ill:
- 51 year old woman returning from Dallas, who arrived back in Hidalgo over the, weekend with acute flu symptoms, is hospitalized, in grave condition.
-8 have been found negative for Swine Flu, positive for Influenza A
-20, including woman, returning from Dallas await results from U.S. laboratories.
Yucatán and Quintana Roo:
-have been place on the NON-INFECTED list.
-although Q. Roo was cited to have some suspicious cases, they have been CLEARED, and found negative.
- Baja California South, Colima, Chiapas, Sonoroa, and Tabasco are also VIRUS FREE.
-Baja California North has had 3 suspectd cases, all of which in-state labs have found negative for Swine Flu, but they will not accept a Virus-Free clearance or discharge patients unñess additional cultures sent to both Atlanta and Canada prove negative as well.
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