Swine flu: France affected?
What is swine flu?
A little reminder: influenza swine is a disease of pig farms, first detected last week in Mexico. This virus, which is easily transmitted, can affect the man, usually during a contact with the animal. But you can eat pork because the influenza is not spread by the meat. This is what reminds since Saturday the Ministry of Agriculture: "This influenza of porcine origin in Mexico is not caught by eating meat, but by air, from man to man. " The cooking temperature (71 ° C at heart) destroyed virus and bacteria, say the Control Centers of the diseases American (CDC).
Where are we today?
The virus has killed 103 people in recent days, according to the Mexican Ministry of Health. The number of people infected is now over 1,600, including 400 hospitalized, said Minister Jose Angel Cordova on the Mexican channel Televisa. The latter, however, said that two-thirds of those affected have recovered.
In addition to Mexico, the most affected country, and the United States where some 20 cases have been detected, Peru, Chile and Costa Rica have implemented health surveillance plans. In Canada, no case has been identified, but Canadian Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq has demanded the utmost vigilance of residents to prevent the spread of this epidemic.
Several suspect cases have been examined in New Zealand, where ten students returning from Mexico have been quarantined for medical examinations, and in Israel, still on a person returning from Mexico.
In Spain, ten possible cases have been detected and in Scotland, two people apparently seized were hospitalized Sunday. But the European health authorities have assured that no case of influenza swine has been declared in Europe.
And in France ?
Paris said Saturday that "France does not import live pigs or Mexican pork". But Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot advises vigilance, without giving in to panic. A case recently detected in the Yvelines is not due to the influenza despite the fact that the information needs to be confirmed by the Minister.
Sunday, three other suspected cases in the North would be negative: "For now, these are cases of influenza banal and so they're not tied to the influenza swine. " would like to emphasize Roselyne Bachelot.
"All those who return from areas where cases are proven, California and even more so the Mexicoif they have a fever or aches or muscle aches, they should contact and call the center 15 or their doctor, who will tell them what to do. It is a citizen act, it is better to report ainfluenza benign that will be verified that to miss a possibility to infect those around him and create an outbreak epidemic ", said the Minister of Health.
France has set up a crisis center to monitor the situation in Mexico. A toll-free number answers your questions, and advises French citizens living in Mexico as well as those who wish to go there: 01 45 50 34 60.
Information is also available on the website of the Ministry of Health: www.sante-sports.gouv.fr
And you, does the epidemic scare you?
