The Mexican government is willing to assist Guyana with information on the influenza H1N1 virus commonly known as swine flu which was first detected in the Central American nation.
Mexican Ambassador to Guyana Fernando Sandoval made the offer yesterday at his first press conference since he presented his credentials some two months ago. He told reporters that international cooperation and solidarity was essential in fighting the illness, even as Mexicans are being discriminated against in many parts of the world for fear of contamination.
He said he had gone to meet Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy for discussions in this regard but learnt that the minister was out of the country. However he is pursuing this plan.
“We understand the importance of the flu and we are in a position to interchange information and help in any way possible,” he told reporters gathered at his residence.
He explained that when the flu was first discovered on April 23, it threw Mexico City into shock and the city was at a complete standstill; services were suspended except the very essential.
Ambassador Sandoval said that the Mexican government had embarked on a massive information campaign which included telling people of the direct symptoms of the disease and the practices which they could employ to protect themselves against it. According to him, even with a total of 44 deaths the campaign had been successful and there have since been no more deaths.
He admitted that the virus presents a great challenge for Mexicans. However, the population’s support and the implementation of governmental policies have led to significant results.
Even with the virus’ detection, he said, Mexico never closed its borders. Meanwhile, he made known his disapproval of the discrimination against Mexicans and citizens of other countries where the virus had been found.
He revealed that a guide for the implementation of an emergency plan for the epidemic in workplaces has been adopted. In the educational sector, he revealed, a strategic guide of how to deal with influenza has been created. Schools are also being cleaned in preparation for their re-opening.
China was one of the countries to quarantine more than 130 Mexicans even though tests showed that they had no flu symptoms or any other illness. The government had to charter a flight to return the citizens home earlier this week.
Sandoval told reporters too that his government felt there was no rationale for travel restrictions, since this was not recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Travellers are instead being urged to protect themselves and others by following simple recommendations related to travel aimed at preventing the spread of infection which are prudent measures to protect from many communicable diseases and not only swine flu.
Further the ambassador confirmed that a Guyanese who was part of a study programme in Mexico and had died had not been a victim of swine flu; but instead had suffered from a brain tumour and subsequently a heart attack.
