Costa Rica's
Health Minister Recommends NO HAND SHAKING
Or KISSING To Keep Flu Virus From Spreading
The ministra de Salud, María Luisa Ávila, is
asking Ticos (Costa Ricans) to refrain from
the traditional greeting with a kiss, as
well as a hand shake and to stay clear of
anyone who has a cold. The recommendation is
for users of public transportation and the
population in general.
The ministra is also recommending that bus
and taxi drivers use alcohol gel and keep
disposable tissues (kleenex) handy at all
times and use a plastic bag for their
disposal.
The recommendations come at a time when
Costa Rica is facing the peak of the AH1N1
pandemic and health officials are concerned
of increased infection and deaths, which is
now at 17.
Although the comments by Ávila are intended
particularly to bus and taxi drivers and
their customers, the recommendation is for
the population in general.
The ministra is asking that bus drivers,
especially, who are down with a cold not to
go to work.
"We are asking the bus companies to keep the
units (buses) clean, cleaning them up at
least twice a day, and to provide waste
baskets", said María Luisa Ávila.
Although only the "romeria", annual walk to
Cartago, has been officially called off, the
ministra recommends for people to avoid
events with a massive number of people, like
a soccer game.
The stress the point, ministra Ávila said
that if 1% of the people at a stadium with
14.000 people occurs, that would translate
140 infected of which only 10% of that or 14
would be hospitalized.
The ministra added that within 72 hours, in
the foregoing scenario, the virus would be
spread country wide.
Defending her decision to cancel the romeria,
the ministra explained that the potentially
nine out of ten "romeros" (walkers) could be
infected as the stress, dehydration and
tiredness would lower their immune system.
As of July 24, the number of reported cases
grew to 5.138, with 606 confirmed infections
and 17 deaths. A total of 3.775 people have
been ruled out of being infected, while 757
are stil waiting laboratory test results,
which could drastically increase the number
of infected.
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