Mexico Will Win Flu Battle, Get Back to Normal, Calderon Says
“Mexico is trying to return to normalcy as soon as possible,” Calderon said in a televised interview broadcast late today. “We are going to win this battle.”
Mexico last week halted non-essential state services from May 1 to May 5, and called on businesses to close to curb the spread the new virus. The World Health Organization has said it is on the verge of declaring a pandemic after the flu spread to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Central America and New Zealand.
Calderon said is too early to estimate the losses caused by the virus. “Some economic sectors may recuperate immediately,” he said. “The front line in the battle against this new virus is in Mexican hospitals and clinics.”
Each day that passes with the current restraints in place costs Mexico around 2 billions pesos ($145 million) of lost gross domestic product, according to an estimate from Sergio Luna, chief economist at Citigroup Inc.s Banamex unit.
Mexico has confirmed 590 cases of swine flu, 22 of which have been fatal, Health Minister Jose Cordova said earlier yesterday in a press conference in Mexico City. Of the dead, 15 were women and 7 were men, Cordova said. Mexico is reviewing 1,723 cases, of which 1,525 have already been tested.
Declining Phase
The epidemic is in a “declining phase” and appears to have “contained itself,” according to Cordova. He said the swine flu shows a 4 percent mortality rate compared with 70 percent in cases of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
President Calderon said Mexico took prudent measures to avoid infection and called on the international community not to discriminate against Mexicans because of the virus.
“I call for respect for Mexicans,” Calderon said. It is unjust that “some countries, out of ignorance and disinformation, insist on taking on repressive, discriminatory measures,” he said, without naming China.
China suspended flights from Mexico to Shanghai on May 2 after a case of the virus was confirmed in a man who traveled to the Chinese city from Mexico. Chinas Health Ministry said May 3 that all passengers who disembarked in the mainland after taking Aeromexico flight AM098 have been found and are in quarantine.
China today defended the measures. “We hope the Mexicans understand the necessary precautions taken by China and that they handle this matter objectively and calmly,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement posted on the ministrys Web site.