Government
Declares A Health Emergency in Costa Rica
Two Cases of
Swine Flu Confirmed in Costa Rica
Ticos Rush To Buy "Tapabocas"
(Masks)
Costa Ricans Cancel Or
Delay Travel To Mexico
Recope Admits Selling
Gasoline With Ethanol Mix, But Little Can Be
Done About It
Former
President Calderón Seeks Re-Election
Coast Guard
Rescues Mariners After Boat Sank Off Costa
Rica
Oversupply Of
Melons, Bad Weather Hurt
Fresh Del Monte
Government
Declares A Health Emergency in Costa Rica
The Costa Rican government issued a "health
emergency" declaration yesterday following
the confirmation of two cases of swine flu.
The declaration allows the Arias
administration to reinforce prevention,
vigilance and medical attention in the
country.
The declaration also allows health officials
to issue restrictive measures to prevent the
infected from spreading the virus to the
rest of the population.
The declaration was signed Tuesday afternoon
by Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias and
the ministra de Salud, María Luisa Ávila,
following the news confirming the second
case of swine flu in Costa Rica.
The first case was of a 21 year old woman
who has recently returned from Mexico. She
was treated at the Calderon Guardia
hospital, while the news broke of a second
case, that of a 29 year old man being
treated in Heredia.
In the case of the woman, she has returned
to Costa Rica from Mexico and after 24 hour
observation at the Calderon Guardia she was
released on Sunday. The man told health
officials he had also returned from a trip
to Mexico on Saturday, but on a different
flight than the woman.
Fortunately, in both cases, the symptoms
were mild and both are out of danger,
although tissue samples were sent to the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in
Atlanta.
The emergency declaration also serves as
proof of disability in work and education.
As of yesterday afternoon the Comisión
Nacional contra la Pandemia de Influenza
registered 35 cases of suspected swine flu.
Ministra Ávila admitted that more cases are
expected and said the Caja Costarricense de
Seguro Social (CCSS) - social security - is
ready to face the emergency, beginning with
the distribution of the first 3.000
antiviral treatments to treat any infected.
|
|
|
|
|
