Argentina:
“But the number of diagnosed H1N1 cases made front-page news and radio commercials reminded citizens how to avoid infection. Carlos Giani, a taxi
driver in Buenos Aires, says that he is concerned and faults the government for not declaring a national emergency earlier. "They did not do it
because of midterm elections," he says. "That is not right. We are talking about lives here. Politics is not worth it."
"We have the risk that if it spreads very fast ... the health system could collapse," Mr. Ava says…
Brazil has advised its citizens to delay travel to Argentina and Chile.
Argentina has reinforced its hospitals and delayed nonessential surgery in many urban areas so that hospitals can handle a growing number of patients
seeking care. It has spread fastest in poor urban areas that ring the capital.
Ms. Ocana, the health minister, gave no specific reason for stepping down, but local media have said that she was frustrated that the federal
government had not declared a national emergency. She had asked schools to be closed down weeks earlier, says Ava. She also butted heads with
Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over an earlier dengue fever outbreak and with unions over control of funds.
• Material from wire services was used in this report.”
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