Mexico confirms swine flu toll rises to 159

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6189805.ece

April 29, 2009
Mexico confirms swine flu toll rises to 159
Chris Ayres in Mexico City

The number of suspected swine flu deaths in Mexico rose again last night to 159, with 2,498 more people thought to be infected, although the numbers showed signs of stabilising as the country imposed a dramatic lockdown on restaurants, gyms, and tourist attractions.

Jose Cordova, Mexico’s Health Secretary, said at a press conference last night that the number of deaths had remained more of less stable since Monday, when the official death toll stood at 152 with 2,000 thought to be infected.

Of those thought to have contracted the disease, about half have been treated and sent home to recover.

Mr Cordova said that since the weekend the authorities had put in place rapid testing procedures to rule out other types of flu and accelerate anti-viral treatment in cases of swine flu. However, the tests to diagnose swine flu remain time-consuming.

Officials in Mexico City have ordered all restaurants, bars and cinemas to close as they take increasingly radical measures to fight the outbreak. Establishments offering food are prohibited from serving sit-down customers, but are allowed to accept take-away orders.

The measure applies only to the central zone of Mexico City that is home to eight million of the 20 million people who live in the now almost deserted metropolis.

The Government also closed all its archaeological sites.

Cuba became yesterday the first country to ban flights to and from Mexico.

Argentina followed and ordered 60,000 visitors who have arrived from Canada, Mexico and US in the past 20 days to report to the Health Ministry.