Costa Rica's Oscar Arias Sees A Lesson In
His Swine Flu
By Chrissie Long
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias remained
in self-imposed quarantine Thursday after
revealing that he had contracted swine flu.
"Apart from ailments like fever and a sore
throat, I feel in good condition and capable
of carrying out my responsibilities through
telecommute,'' Arias said in a statement
from his home, where he's waiting out the
seven-day contagious period. "The pandemic
does not discriminate.''
It's unclear how the 68-year-old president
contracted the virus, which has infected
more than 177,000 people worldwide and been
blamed for more than 1,270 deaths. But
Arias, who most recently made headlines for
his role in the Honduran peace talks, is
using swine flu as a teaching tool in a
region where infections are on the rise.
Costa Rican health officials say swine flu
is approaching its peak and they're doing
everything possible to stem its spread.
To respond to the pandemic -- in Costa Rica,
there have been 798 infections, including 27
deaths -- authorities have prolonged school
vacation by a week, canceled the largest
annual religious event, handed out free
antiviral medication, and wiped down the
insides of trains and buses with
disinfectant.
REGIONAL LEADER
Costa Rica has the highest number of cases
-- and fatalities -- in Central America.
That's not because the flu virus has hit the
country the hardest, said Vice Minister of
Health Ana Morice, but because Costa Rica is
more diligent about testing for the virus.
Health officials even draw blood samples
from the dead to determine infection, she
said.
El Salvador has reported 626 cases with 12
deaths; Panama, 622 cases with three deaths;
Nicaragua, 543 cases with one death;
Guatemala, 517 cases with 10 deaths; and
Honduras, 267 cases with seven deaths.
"I find it hard to believe that Nicaragua
only has one death as a result of the flu
virus,'' said Dr. Henry Wasserman, a
preventive medicine specialist with the
Costa Rican Health Ministry. "I am not
saying they are trying to hide cases, but
maybe they haven't gone to the same efforts
in tracking down the cases.''
But Costa Rica has since slowed its effort
to follow H1N1 cases under orders from the
World Health Organization, which has asked
countries to direct their resources toward
protecting the most vulnerable from further
medical complications, including pregnant
women, obese persons, asthmatics and those
suffering from lung and heart conditions.
WHO placed developing countries in a better
position to confront a flu pandemic when it
asked each country to draft a plan in 2005
in preparation for avian flu, said Federico
Hernández, a spokesman with the Pan American
Health Organization.
The plan offered guidelines and steps to
help developing countries respond
effectively to any pandemic, he said.
"Central American countries knew what to do
and how to respond,'' Hernández said. "An
effective response to the flu obviously
depends on the conditions of each country.
More developed countries have a higher
capacity in their health services, their
diagnostic ability and their hospitalization
opportunities. But the plans were exactly
the same, allowing countries to enact
measures . . . related to mass
communication, treatment and prevention.''
Throughout the Americas, 102,905 cases of
swine flu have been confirmed, causing 1,274
deaths as of Aug. 7, according to WHO
figures.
DANGEROUS TIME
Central America has faced the added
challenge of confronting the virus during
its peak flu season.
Much like the flu surge during the winter
season in the United States, Central
American countries see an increase during
the green or rainy season.
"It has put us at a disadvantage,'' said
Wasserman of the Costa Rican Health
Ministry.
"The virus has more of a chance of surviving
in environments that are cold and damp.
Right now, we have both seasonal flu and
pandemic flu -- something the United States
has avoided. For us, it's added the
challenge of distinguishing between the
two.''
Costa Ricans and others in Central America
have been asked to be on heightened alert as
the flu is expected to hit its peak in the
next week.
Arias, whose symptoms surfaced on Sunday,
has locked himself in his suburban home
until the seven-day isolation period has
passed.
Though he's not shutting out all visitors --
he reportedly had guests over to watch his
national soccer team play Wednesday night --
he's limiting contact, taking antiviral
medication and following prescribed
hand-washing techniques.
"I am one more contagious case in the
country, and I will assume the
recommendations health authorities have
established for the population,'' he said.
Though his symptoms have been classified as
mild, his team of doctors is not taking any
chances: He is asthmatic, one of the many
identified ``risk factors.''
"He is not incapacitated. He is in his home,
following protocol,'' said Rodrigo Arias,
his brother and minister to the president.
"And he is continuing with his
responsibilities as president of the
republic though he is not physically
present.''
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