Cabo San Lucas Swine Flu – A (H1N1)

Updates from Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Influenza A(H1N1) Infection – 2009 (H1N1) Flu. With all the swine flu attention in the media, we are tying to focus on reports that impact the Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur region of Mexico. The following are some of the recent headlines with links to the complete report or article.

Note: this page was originally created in April and May 2009; Some information and or links may be out of date.

Excerpts from World Health Organization web site updates

Influenza A(H1N1) – Update 37 – 23 May 2009

23 May 2009 — As of 06:00 GMT, 23 May 2009, 43 countries have officially reported 12,022 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 86 deaths.

Mexico has reported 3,892 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 75 deaths. The United States has reported 6,552 laboratory confirmed human cases, including nine (9) deaths. Canada has reported 719 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one (1) death. Costa Rica has reported nine laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The breakdown of the number of laboratory-confirmed cases by country is given in the table and map on the WHO web site. The numbers are based on the information provided to WHO by national health authorities.

In Mexico City, Flu Brings Varied Lessons

05 May 2009 – By ANA CAMPOY and DAVID LUHNOW
MEXICO CITY — This city of around 20 million will begin to come back to life on Wednesday after enduring nearly two weeks of virtual quarantine due to the new and deadly flu bug. Mexico City’s restaurants and shops are set to open their doors again, while schools will gradually reopen.

The A/H1N1 virus brought the city to a spooky standstill after the government on Friday ordered nonessential businesses to close for five days. Since the bug appeared, cultural customs like greeting with a kiss on the cheek have been replaced by an awkward bow or wave.

Escape the Swine Flu and Head to Los Cabos, Mexico.

05 May 2009 – Article by Ashley Alvardo for LosCabosGuide.com
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO — While negative news stories continue to caution against travel to México, near-daily reports released by the World Health Organization, Mexican secretary of health, and other tracking websites paint a different, more positive and specific picture.

Mexico Set to Reopen Businesses After Flu Shutdown

MAY 5, 2009, 9:54 A.M. ET – The Wall Street Journal
Associated Press: MEXICO CITY — Traffic is picking up again, cafes are reopening and cleanup crews are getting universities ready to resume classes. Mexico City has some of its customary bustle back, and the president promises life is returning to normal after a five-day shutdown to contain the spread of the A/H1N1 flu.

Mexico still called off Cinco de Mayo celebrations Tuesday, including the biggest one of all — a re-enactment of the May 5, 1862, victory over French troops in the central state of Puebla. And health experts warned that Mexico and the rest of the world needed to remain on guard against the virus.

Saying the outbreak is waning in Mexico, the epicenter of an illness that has sickened hundreds around the world, President Felipe Calderon announced it was nearly time to reopen businesses. Universities and high schools will open their doors Thursday, and younger schoolchildren are to report back to school May 11.

Mexico says flu ebbing, lowers alert level

By DAVID KOOP, Associated Press Writer – 04 May 2009 – 12:45 PM PDT
MEXICO CITY – Mexican officials lowered their swine flu alert level in the capital on Monday and said they will allow cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week, even as world health officials weighed raising their pandemic alert to the highest level.

Mexican officials declared the epidemic to be waning at its epicenter, announcing that Wednesday will conclude a five-day closure of nonessential businesses they credit for reducing the spread of the new virus. They haven’t decided when to reopen schools nationwide, saying inspections are necessary before students can return to class.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu

Flu cases rise; public weighs best response

By Sandra Dibble and Jeff McDonald, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
2:00 a.m. May 3, 2009. …The global tally included 11 newly confirmed cases of infection in Baja California – 10 in the state capital of Mexicali and one in Ensenada… Baja California’s health secretary, Dr. José Bustamante, said the state’s 11 confirmed patients, many of them adolescents, have been treated and are out of danger. Bustamante said 30 additional samples are being analyzed by a federal laboratory in Mexico City…
Editor’s note: The state of Baja California (sometimes referred to Baja Califonia Norte) is the northernmost state in the Baja Peninsula, which contains the cities of Mexicali, Ensenada and Tijuana. Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo (Los Cabos) are located in Baja California Sur, at the southern tip of the peninsula.
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/03/1n3flumain01734-signs-hopeful-virus-weaker-officia/?uniontrib

Swine Flu in Baja – The Outbreak of H1N1 in Mexico – BajaInsider.com

There has been an outbreak of a new virus initially named “Swine Flu” that appears to have originated near Veracruz, Mexico several weeks ago. Mexico will close government offices, schools and many businesses as of Friday, May 1 through May 5th. However, this is not terribly significant, as the 1st and 4th are both national holidays and this will provide an extended weekend for many employees. Schools nationwide are currently closed until May 6th. Note: article is not dated, but we estimate that it was written April 29th or 30th, 2009.
http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-life/health/swineflubaja.htm – April 2020 – link no longer valid

Swine Flu and Todos Santos Baja Mexico

April 28, 2009. Nope, no swine flu here. At least not yet. Kids are all out of school through May 6, this after just having 2 weeks off for Semana Santa (Easter.) http://elcalendario.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/swine-flu-and-todos-santos-baja-mexico/

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.
Regular updates are available from the WHO updates page

Recap of previous WHO website updates and reports – LosCabosGuide.com

Los Cabos, Mexico Area Media and Reports:

Smart Travel Dos and Don’ts.

17 May 2009 – Article by Ashley Alvardo for LosCabosGuide.com
Reports on the recent violence in northwest México have led many to unnecessarily cancel their trips to some of the nation’s best resort towns, including Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in the Baja Peninsula.

Swine Flu Update – Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, Mexico. Influenza 2009 A (H1N1) Infection.
16 May 2009 – Article by Ashley Alvardo for LosCabosGuide.com
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO —
As the media firestorm surrounding last month’s outbreak of the A(H1N1) virus, better known as the swine flu, winds down, many are still left wondering whether travel to Mexican resort towns such as Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is safe. The answer being given by both Mexican and American officials, multiple media outlets, area doctors, and the World Health Organization is a resounding yes. Swine Flu Los Cabos update continues.

Mexicans Return to Work as Confirmed Flu Cases Rise
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. – Published: May 7, 2009 – The New York Times
Although very few Americans have developed serious swine flu complications, those who have are surprisingly young, United States health officials said Wednesday.

Only 35 people have been hospitalized with confirmed swine flu infections, but their median age is 15, said Dr. Richard E. Besser, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control.

Influenza A(H1N1) Infection – 2009 (H1N1) Flu.

With all the swine flu attention in the media, we are tying to focus on reports that impact the Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur region of Mexico. The following are some of the recent headlines with links to the complete report or article.

Resources and Related Links:

Putting Swine Flu in Perspective – By Miranda Hitti, WebMD Health News; Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
May 1, 2009 – 7 Reasons Not to Over Worry – After a solid week of scary headlines about swine flu, it’s time to take a step back, take a deep breath, and regain perspective. Here are seven points to consider:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=99921

UN says no plans for highest pandemic level yet – Associated Press – 04 May 2009 – 7:30 AM PDT
UNITED NATIONS – The heads of the United Nations and the World Health Organization say there are no imminent plans to raise its pandemic alert to its highest level. In New York on Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says WHO “has no plan to raise the alert level to 6 at this moment.” WHO chief Margaret Chan also tells the U.N. General Assembly by videolink from Geneva that “we are not there yet.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC Travelers’ Health offers information to assist travelers and their health-care providers in deciding the vaccines, medications, and other measures necessary to prevent illness and injury during international travel. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/

CDC Influenza Fact Sheet 

Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_003

HealthMap – Global Disease Alert Map

In the section marked “Diseases, last 30 days”, click on the Swine Flu H1N1 link. HealthMap brings together disparate data sources to achieve a unified and comprehensive view of the current global state of infectious diseases and their effect on human and animal health. http://www.healthmap.org/en

Influenza A(H1N1) Swine Flu web site of World Health Organization

We are building a better, healthier future for people all over the world. Working with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices, WHO staff are united in a shared commitment to achieve better health for everyone, everywhere.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

Influenza A(H1N1) Infection – 2009 – Frequently Asked Questions

Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4494.html

LiveScience Q&A: Swine Flu Myths and Mysteries

This link goes to an article this is Part 2 of a 4-part LiveScience Special Report on the flu. By Robin Lloyd, LiveScience Senior Editor. 27 April 2009 09:33 am ET. http://www.livescience.com/health/090427-flu-q-and-a.html

Mexico’s Fast Diagnosis: by Julio Frenk.

Published: April 30, 2009 – The New York Times. H1N1 – Swine Flu article.
Julio Frenk M.D., Pd.D, M.P.H. is Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health and Mexico’s Minister of Health from 2000 to 2006.

Swine Flu Is Evolution in Action

By Robert Roy Britt, Editorial Director, posted: 28 April 2009 01:30 pm ET
Anyone who thinks evolution is for the birds should not be afraid of swine flu. Because if there’s no such thing as evolution, then there’s no such thing as a new strain of swine flu infecting people. For the rest of the population, concern is justified. http://www.livescience.com/health/090428-swine-flu-viral-evolution.html

Coronavirus Live Update:

Coronavirus infections are spreading at a rapid pace. The virus is officially a public health emergency and thousands of people have been infected to date. Health officials are currently tracking the infection across several countries in an effort to stay one step ahead of the virus. You can keep track of the rate of infection using this live tracker.
www.safetydetectives.com/novel-coronavirus-ncov-real-time-report/

U.S. Department of State – Travel Center links and resources

Our highest priority is to protect the lives and interests of U.S. citizens overseas. We do this through routine and emergency services to Americans at our embassies and consulates around the world. We serve our fellow citizens during their most important moments – births, deaths, disasters, arrests, and medical emergencies. The Bureau of Consular Affairs formulates and implements policy relating to immigration and consular services and ensures responsive and efficient provision of consular services overseas.
travel.state.gov/ – travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

World Health Organization

Better health for everyone, everywhere. We are building a better, healthier future for people all over the world. Working with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices, WHO staff are united in a shared commitment to achieve better health for everyone, everywhere.   http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/

Last Revision – 23 May 2009 – jat