Gearing up for Swine Flu

While the Southern Cone battles swine flu, North America braces for its own possible bout with H1N1. By now, the Western Hemisphere has felt the effects and reported the world’s majority of deaths from the pandemic. On August 7, months after a swine flu scare shut down Mexico City and raised international panic, the Pan American Health Organization reported that all 35 countries in the Americas had reported incidence of H1N1. Recently, North American leaders and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) made the virus a focal point of summits. As North American health officials prepare for the flu season, regional responses offer guidance.

The fact that Costa Rican President Óscar Arias came down with a case of swine flu launched the disease into the media spotlight and highlighted its spread in Central America. Several countries in the region took measures to confront the pandemic. For example, El Salvador closed schools and Costa Rica offered the vaccine free in hospitals. Central American ministers met in June to coordinate disease preparedness.

In the Southern Cone, Argentine officials say the number of new swine flu cases appears to be subsiding. Still, Argentina’s Ministry of Health confirmed 337 H1N1 deaths earlier this month, making it the country with the second-highest death rate from the disease after the United States. The Economist compared Argentine and Chilean responses to the swine flu outbreak. It found that Chile, which reported South America’s first case, benefited from a quick response while Argentina suffered as a result of a less integrated, unevenly funded health care system and slower government reaction. In July, Buenos Aires took steps to control infection by closing public venues and and giving schools a longer winter break. AméricaEconomia examines the costs of H1N1 in Latin America and says tArgentina felt a stronger economic impact than did Chile.

In July, Mercosur countries argued for exemption from patent rights as part of efforts to combat swine flu. During a UNASUR summit last week, leaders agreed to setting a ceiling on the price of H1N1 vaccines to mitigate the financial impact of swine flu fears.

With an eye to swine flu struggles further south, North American leaders meeting in Guadalajara on August 9 and 10 talked coordination. In a declaration released after the summit, they said: “In anticipation of a possible fall wave of flu do to the 2009 H1N1 virus, we will look to enhance our exchange of information… and share expertise.” Domestic strategies in each country have centered on testing and increasing vaccine availability.

Like Chile, Mexico earned praise for its swift response to April’s outbreak. Similarly, a recent poll shows that the Canadian and U.S. public approve of their respective governments’ response to H1N1. In an interview, Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister Lourdes Aranda said trilateral plans in place for emergency response—primarily for terrorist or anthrax attacks—helped lay the groundwork for a North American response in the spring.

Still, some believe the “second wave” could hit harder than the first. A BBC report suggests that, with an impending flu season, North America could learn from the recent Argentine experience and take precautionary measures that include educating the public or closing schools.

Learn More:

• U.S. government H1N1 page.
• Canadian government H1N1 page.
• Mexican government H1N1 page.
• Website for Argentina's Ministry of Health, including H1N1 updates in that country.
• Center for Disease Control H1N1 page.
• World Health Organization H1N1 page.
• Pan American Health Organization interactive H1N1 map.
• FluTracker interactive H1N1 world map.