Mexico City and Mexico in General Update on Swine (Pig) Flu Epidemic, April 25, 2009

You might think that inter-species diseases are a thing of the movies, but in reality viruses, bacteria, and fungus jump between the species they attack. The recent H1N1 pig flu virus had genes from bird flu, and when it migrated to humans, it acquired human genes.
Vaccines try to prevent inter-species viruses and include immunity against variations of H1N1, H3N2, H1N2. Viral mutations are not fiction, and vaccination and potent anti-virals are some of our weapons.

Those who need to walk the streets of Mexico City, do it mostly with face masks (surgical masks) and stopped shaking hands with those they meet. Surgical mask stocks ran out, and available human flu vaccines are in too high demand in comparison with the available quantity.

Mexico City, the Mexican Capital is today at the epicenter of the epidemic, there are an estimatedd 1,324 pig flu cases nationwide by April 25t. The City's and State's schoolsare closed until May 6, and President Felipe Calderon issued a decree allowing the federal health department to enter homes and forcibly quarantine people.

The Mexican Health Secretary, Jose Cordova said that by Saturday, the death count is 81 of "probably linked" deaths although there are only 20 confirmed deaths linked to the deadly virus. Córdova also said most of the swine flu case were of people between 20 and 50, unlike other types of flu that target children and the elderly.

Ciudad de Mexico, or Mexico City is the largest City of Mexico, and it is considered overpopulated with 20 million citizens dweling in it. The streets are usually crammed with people and is very busy specially at this time of the year. The City officials have adviced people to stay at home in an intend to minimize the spread of the disease.

Tags: Swin Flu News, Swine Flu News

Biotechnology advances have allowed us to understand viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens better than ever before. We use genetic engineering, DNA sequencing, microarrays, PCR, and other genomic and proteomic tools to understand pathogens better.
We've also developed vaccines and potent antivirals and antibiotics that fight diseases. A proof of this is how much longer life expectancy is Today than it was before the 1940's when antibiotics were invented.

Comment on "Mexico City and Mexico in General Update on Swine (Pig) Flu Epidemic, April 25, 2009"