Buenos Aires - The number of swine flu cases in Argentina
rose drastically on Friday, with the new government health minister
reporting an estimated 100,000 cases of of the A(H1N1) virus.
But he clarified that the estimate covers all seasonsl flu cases
in Argentina this year, and said the number is not out of line with
flu numbers in past years.
At least 44 people have died, including two new deaths in the
province of Santa Fe, the country's new Health Minister Juan Luis
Manzur said. The estimate of infected includes those who have already
recovered, minor cases and those without symptoms, he said.
About 2,800 cases have been confirmed as A(H1N1) by laboratory
studies during the current South American winter.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Friday
called for 'responsibility' when dealing with the health crisis, as
she visited a hospital in the suburbs of Buenos Aires that was
focusing on the treatment of serious cases of the new flu.
'We are facing a pandemic, we have our heads wide open based on
scientific criteria and under the advice of scientists,' she said.
Manzur noted that most flu cases in the country are now regarded
as involving the new virus.
'We infer that 85 per cent of the virus that is circulating this
year is H1N1,' he said.
However, Manzur toned down the panic around the new virus.
'When you start to compare with earlier years we have very similar
figures,' he said.
According to the minister, there are about 4,000 deaths per year
in Argentina of influenza-type diseases. This year, despite the
emergence of the new virus, the authorities do not expect flu deaths
in general to rise, he said.
The last official figure released last week stood at 1,587
infected and 26 dead. Argentina has seen the third most deaths from
the virus after Mexico and the United States.
The country has closed most public facilities, including schools,
universities and courts. Many cities and towns have also ordered the
closure of shops, restaurants, cafes, sports centres and dance halls.
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