Dubai - The United Arab Emirates is free from Swine Flu cases such as those recently announced in Mexico and other countries, UAE Health Minister said on Tuesday. "We are taking preventive precautionary measures to prevent the entry of the disease into the UAE," Humaid al-Qatami told a press conference.
One of these measures includes full coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO) through a hotline that enables the ministry to follow all reports and recommendations made by the WHO throughout the day.
New York - Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday that 44 swine flu cases have been confirmed in New York City, making it the largest cluster of flu cases in the United States, even though all cases are mild and everyone is recovering. Bloomberg said he expects new cases to be confirmed in the coming days as tests continue on students with severe symptoms at Saint Francis High School in Queens, where all the cases originated. The school remained closed Wednesday.
San Jose - Costa Rican authorities confirmed Tuesday the first case of swine flu in the country, which would also be the first in Central America. Costa Rican Health Minister Maria Luisa Avila said the life of the patient - a 21-year-old woman who lives in the San Jose metropolitan area - was not at risk. Doctors were following her progress and the health and that of her relatives, the minister said.
Sacramento - California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday declared a state of emergency to help the largest and most populous state in the US deal with the outbreak of swine flu. "While there is no need for alarm, it is the governor's top priority to limit the swine flu's spread as quickly and effectively as possible and this action represents one more step being taken to strengthen California's response capabilities," said an announcement from Schwarzenegger's office.
Havana - Cuba suspended Tuesday all flights to and from Mexico for 48 hours to prevent spread of the flu virus which has caused 152 deaths in Mexico, including at least 20 from a newly emerging swine flu virus, Cuba's Public Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer said in a statement. The Cuban government said earlier Tuesday that no cases of swine flu had been reported in the country and that there were also no suspected cases, although they increased health surveillance at airports and ports.
