Swine Flu Update – Argentina

We’ve composed an update for you relative to the effects of Swine Flu in Argentina.  It’s worth paying attention to…which is why I’m posting it for you all.

President of Argentina Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner with Health Minister Dr. Juan Manzur, right. Photo c/o Enrique Marcarian/Reuters

July 8, 2009 from All Headline News

• More than 60 confirmed deaths in Argentina from swine flu
• Government officials decided to shut down banks Friday (July 3) in an effort to contain the virus
• Travel has nearly fallen in half in the past few days, would cost the hospitality industry $150 million/week, should the pace continue.
• Economic analysts’ estimate economic impact at $1.6 billion if the epidemic last a month.
• 2,485 officially confirmed cases in Argentina

July 7, 2009 from Republican American

• Outbreak of swine flu in Argentina may cut output by 0.6 percent said Orlando Ferreres of Buenos Aires research company Orlando Ferreres & Asociados
• Health Minister Juan Luis Manzur said yesterday about 90 percent of the country’s influenza cases involve the H1N1 virus, displacing other types of flu that have affected Argentina in the past.
• The city of Buenos Aires and several provinces have declared a health emergency, moving up winter vacations for schools and universities, and canceling some public events
• The national government granted pregnant women 15 days paid leave.
• The Argentine Association of Theater Owners yesterday announced the suspension of functions for 10 days after demand for tickets fell 80%, said Carlos Rottemberg, head of group.

July 7, 2009 from Screenhead.com

• Film distributors in Argentina have delayed the movie premieres as an outbreak of swine flu reaches attendance
• Admissions declined 34% from July 3-5 compared with the previous week despite releases of Ice Age and The Proposal, says box office tracker Ultracine

July 3, 2009 from NY Times

• Swine flu has killed more people in Argentina than in any other country in South America
• The death rate of 1.6 percent is more than three times the world average, Claudio Zin, the health minister of Buenos Aires Province, said Friday.
• Argentina passed Canada this week as the country with the third-highest death toll from the flu…remains behind Mexico and the US
• Officials suspect that there are 100,000 cases of swine flu in the country, compared with 320,000 cases of other types of flu.
• Some private health officials have said that President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s government should have declared a state of emergency before national congressional elections last Sunday.
• That would have likely delaye the elections, which Mrs. Kirchner had moved up by four months to increase the chances that her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner, could prevail in his race for Congress.
• Several doctors have said former health minister Graciela Ocaña had recommended calling a national state of emergency and delaying the elections, but was overruled.
• The outbreak is expected to cost the economy up to $2.9 billion this year

Swine Flu in Argentina photo c/o AP

July 1, 2009 from BBC UK

• Local officials said school in the capital and three other regions are cancelled from Monday (July 6), bringing forward winter holidays due to start on 20 July.
• “Families … should see it as a time for the children to stay at home as much as possible and avoid places where people are crowded together,” said Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri.
• Officials said that restaurants, cinemas and other public buildings would remain open.
• Many cases in the region have been reported in working class and poorer areas, says BBC’s Candace Piette in Buenos Aires.

Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter here

To see our upcoming event schedule, click here

Check out our inhome-course programs

Subscribe to Preparedness Pro today and never miss a thing!

For any questions or comments on this article, please leave a comment on the blog site so that everyone can benefit!

Copyright Protected 2009, Preparedness Pro and Kellene. All Rights Reserved. No portion of any content on this site may be duplicated, transferred, copied, or published without written permission from the author. However, you are welcome to provide a link to the content on your site or in your written works.