Swine flu outbreak

Mexico says spread of swine influenza has stabilised

Article published on the 2009-04-30 Latest update 2009-04-30 15:53 TU

A man and his two daughters wear face masks in Matamoros city on 29 April 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

Officials in Mexico have said that the outbreak of swine flu has stabilised according to the numbers of confirmed cases.

“A lot of Mexicans are questioning just how many people have got the virus,” said correspondent James Blears.

Eight people in Mexico have died from swine influenza, while another 91 people have confirmed cases.

On Wednesday health officials said probable deaths related to the virus had been lowered to 84, after they made further tests.

Mexico City is also returning to some sort of normality.

“Many people in Mexico City are discarding their masks. In the first days it was surreal, when you went into a supermarket, everyone had their masks on and people were bulk-buying in a subdued panic,” Blears told RFI.

While there are some questions over the effectiveness of face masks, which are intended to prevent the spread of the disease.

After speaking to an ear, nose and throat specialist, Blears said, “the masks are useful in one way, and almost useless in another way.”

“If someone has got the virus and is wearing the mask, and sneezes, and your standing by them, the likelihood is that you won’t contract the virus, because what’s sneezed will stay in the mask. However if you have a mask […] the mask will not necessarily help or prevent you from contracting the illness,” he told RFI.

The financial impact from the outbreak has been put at 70 billion dollars (52 million euros), hitting the tourism industry particularly hard.

“People are fleeing from Mexico, and they’re not going to come back in a while, we’re at the beginning of the summer, this is supposed to be the start of the tourism season,” said Blears, speaking from Mexico City.