Mexico is stopping slowly: A week in Mexico in suspense by the swine flu, with 8 deaths and 99 infections

Mexico is in the air since he was declared the epidemic of swine flu last week and adds a total of 8 deaths of 99 people infected by new virus, which authorities believe will impact the economy, and seriously has nearly paralyzed the country. Continue reading the arículo
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The Mexican president, Felipe Calderón Enlarge photo

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In the first message to the country on Wednesday night, since the emergency was declared, President Felipe Calderón advised the Mexicans in these days of leave "to stay at home with family because there is no place safer than your own house "to avoid contagion. The authorities seek to avoid large clusters which are a source of favorable contact of the virus that is transmitted between people.

Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova, announced that the swine flu deaths from seven to eight in Mexico, on a total of 99 confirmed cases, bringing to 50 the number of infections that had spread in the day. "The cases of people affected by swine virus added 99, eight of which unfortunately died. Only one death is more than the figure of yesterday (Tuesday)," said Córdova in the usual daily press conference on the epidemic.

For his part, Finance Minister Agustin Carstens, estimated that the epidemic will impact on the economy with a fall of between 0.3 and 0.5% of GDP, amidst the economic crisis that will cause a sharp contraction in Mexico in 2009 from 3.8% to 4.8%, predicted on Wednesday the Central Bank. "Definitely going to have an impact, there is no way to know with precision. The magnitude of the event will depend on the duration and spread of the epidemic. It could be between 0.3 and 0.5% of GDP if the episode lasts up to three months, "Carstens calculated.

The economic impact is estimated mainly by restricting the activities least in dividual or collective areas. The government of Mexico City, where the largest outbreak of the epidemic with 83 confirmed cases, closed bars and restaurants, while across the country were suspended artistic and cultural functions and classes in all levels.

The famous archaeological sites in Mexico were closed "until further notice" and football matches will be played without the public next weekend, while the hotel business in the capital believe that the occupation these days is only 10% in capital.

Córdova announced additional measures as part of the official strategy to mitigate the epidemic, including the suspension of activities in the federal public service, from 1 to May 5, "are taking advantage of days off." He also said that the work will be suspended and non-essential services during this period, covering the festival on Friday for an international day of workers and the transfer from Tuesday to Monday for a national celebration.

The expansion of the swine flu caused elo died Wednesday in a United States (of a child come from Mexico) and was confirmed in additional patients in Germany, Austria, Spain and United Kingdom and Switzerland, while almost all countries adopt measures of prevention, as the cases of Argentina and Cuba, which suspended flights to Mexico.

The U.S. president, Barack Obama, dismissed the possibility of closing the border with Mexico more than 3,000 kilometers, as the virus has already arrived in United States.