AH1N1 Flu Deaths In Costa Rica Reaches 29, The
Highest In The Region
The AH1N1 flu virus continues to claim more
lives and more infections as Salud (health)
officials have failed to contain the virus
despite keeping the schools closed one week
longer last month and then cancelling the
tradition of the "romeria" at the beginning
of this month.
A 49 year old man is the latest victim of
the virus, bringing the total number of
deaths in Costa Rica to 29. The man from the
area of Valverde Vega in Alajuela.
Salud officials are also suspecting the
death of a 26 year old man that could raise
the number of deaths even further.
The infected in the country include the
country's president, Oscar Arias. The
Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) whip,Jorge
Méndez, in the legislature is also suspected
of being infected.
Costa Rica has the highest number of cases
and fatalities in Central America, with 865
cases of confirmed infections since the
virus was first found in Costa Rica on April
24.
At the peak some 124 people were being
hospitalized, though that number dropped to
91 this week. Salud officials are expecting
to drop to continue.
The viceministra de Salud, Ana Morice, said
that the higher numbers in Costa Rica are
not due to the country being hit hardest
than other countries in the region, but
rather to Costa Rica's diligence about
testing, that includes drawing blood from
the dead suspected of being infected with
the AH1N1.
Pregnant women are in the high risk group
and as such the government has issued a
decree to allow pregnant women who work in
the public sector to be allowed to work from
home if they choose. For the private sector,
the government hopes that private companies
will also promote the practice to avoid
exposing their employees to the risk.
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