Suspected Swine Flu Cases Climbs to 129 In
Costa Rica
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Suspected
Swine Flu Cases Climbs to 129 In Costa Rica
The number of suspected swine flu cases
continues to climb since the first confirmed
case was announced on Monday. The total of
number of people suspected of being infected
by the swine flu in Costa Rica was 129 as of
last night (Thursday).
Twenty nine of the cases have been ruled
out, the remaining are waiting on an
analysis by the Instituto Costarricense de
Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y
Salud (Inciensa).
The numbers are only cases handled by the
public heath system and do not include the
number of people evaluated at private
hospitals and clinics.
The news was released by the ministra de
Salud, Maria Luisa Avila, who is asking the
Costa Rican population to stay calm.
According to th Comisión Nacional contra
Pandemia de Influenza (national commission
against a Pandemic influenza outbreak), 80
of the 129 cases were in provinces of
Alajuela, Heredia and Guanacaste, while the
rest are in the San José metropoitan area
(the capital) and Cartago. No cases have
been reported in the provinces of Limon and
Puntarenas.
The vice-ministra de Salud, Ana Morice, said
the two confirmed cases are still pending a
report by the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) in Atlanta. The results had been
expected yesterday, but Morice confirmed
that the results had not been received and
may be available today, which will
definitevily confirm if the two are infected
with the H1N1 virus.
Health officials are recommending people who
feel sick to stay home this long weekend,
not to take trips on public buses, visit the
local malls and avoid areas of large
grouping of people, like the May Day march
planned for today.
Ministra Avila said that, although the
majority of the cases are in San José, the
rest of the country cannot let their guard
down.
The health minister added that bus operators
have been asked not to transport anyone who
appears with a cold.
Minister Avila suggested that people take
advantage of the long weekend and stay home
to rest, eat healthy, not smoke, exercise
and wash hands frequently.
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