The government announced a number of measures to cope with the H1N1 influenza outbreak. They authorized districts to extend the winter holidays at schools, and Buenos Aires province announced it would bring them forward for next week. Six provinces meanwhile suspended classes.

The national committee co-ordinating measures to cope with the flu held a meeting yesterday afternoon, in which President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner participated. During a press conference earlier, the President said the “appropriate measures” were taken to face the flu outbreak.

Hospitals’ authorities, health care scheme representatives and medical experts also took part in the session. The committee was expected to declare a national health emergency due to the virus, but no announcement was made.

Cabinet Chief Sergio Massa, who held a press conference at 9.30pm, after the two-hour meeting ended, said that the emergency was an “administrative measure” that allowed the executive branch to buy supplies with less controls. “We have to make sure purchases are properly made,” Massa said, ruling out the government would adopt that measure.

The Buenos Aires province Health Ministry meanwhile asked the governor to declare the health emergency in the district, the worst hit by the influenza outbreak.

The committee decided to authorize districts to extend the winter holiday period up to two weeks, in order to avoid the spread of influenza among students.

The measure will be adopted in Buenos Aires province starting next Monday or Wednesday, Massa said.

The national committee co-ordinating measures to cope with the flu held a meeting yesterday afternoon, in which President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner participated. During a press conference earlier, the President said the "appropriate measures" were taken to face the flu outbreak.

Hospitals' authorities, health care scheme representatives and medical experts also took part in the session.

The committee was expected to declare a national health emergency due to the virus, but no announcement was made.

Cabinet Chief Sergio Massa, who held a press conference at 9.30pm, after the two-hour meeting ended, said that the emergency was an "administrative measure" that allowed the executive branch to buy supplies with less controls.

"We have to make sure purchases are properly made," Massa said, ruling out the government would adopt that measure.

The Buenos Aires province Health Ministry meanwhile asked the governor to declare the health emergency in the district, the worst hit by the influenza outbreak.

The committee decided to authorize districts to extend the winter holiday period up to two weeks, in order to avoid the spread of influenza among students.

The measure will be adopted in Buenos Aires province starting next Monday or Wednesday, Massa said. Provincial Health Minister Claudio Zin explained that the measure will come in force next week because they have to make arrangements for the children who have lunch at schools to be able to get their meals despite the schools' closure.

The district has to have the endorsement of the local Education and Health Ministries to extend the holidays, and the national Education Ministry will provide materials for children to study at home, the Cabinet chief said.

Massa said the committee also decided to implement a new communication strategy so that the media gives "serious information" about the outbreak. Massa said that in the last few days unauthorized people have been talking about the flu, creating panic among the population "to get five minutes of fame," so they decided to make a group of experts available for the media to interview. Massa said mass events will not be cancelled, but recommended that people not attend them in order to prevent contagion.

Some 700 million pesos will be used in the next 60 days in order to cope with the situation, Massa said, especially to reinforce health care centres.

He also asked pregnant women, the most vulnerable group, to consult doctors in case they have influenza-like symptoms.

Treatment will now be available for suspected patients, and not only for confirmed cases, as used to be the case, the official added.

Earlier yesterday educational institutions suspended classes in several provinces due to the H1N1 virus.
In the provinces of Santa Fe, San Luis, Santiago del Estero, Entre Ríos and Corrientes local authorities yesterday decided to suspend classes in primary and secondary schools, after confirming cases of H1N1 influenza among students or as a preventive measure.

The dentistry faculty of the Buenos Aires University (UBA) reported a professor and a student died with influenza-like symptoms, and decided to suspend classes at that institution. So did the La Plata Medical School and another university in Santa Fe in order to prevent the flu from spreading.

UBA authorities were to meet today to decide preventive measures. La Plata's Medical School meanwhile decided to suspend classes

Health authorities have confirmed 1,587 cases from the new strain of virus, also known as swine flu, which is spreading in several provinces. A total of 28 people have died so far due to the virus, making Argentina the South American country with the highest number of deaths.

The outbreak has lead to hospitals being overwhelmed as flu cases swamp emergency rooms, and some health centres even recognized they have collapsed due to the cases.

re will come in force next week because they have to make arrangements for the children who have lunch at schools to be able to get their meals despite the schools’ closure.

The district has to have the endorsement of the local Education and Health Ministries to extend the holidays, and the national Education Ministry will provide materials for children to study at home, the Cabinet chief said.

Massa said the committee also decided to implement a new communication strategy so that the media gives “serious information” about the outbreak. Massa said that in the last few days unauthorized people have been talking about the flu, creating panic among the population “to get five minutes of fame,” so they decided to make a group of experts available for the media to interview. Massa said mass events will not be cancelled, but recommended that people not attend them in order to prevent contagion.
Some 700 million pesos will be used in the next 60 days in order to cope with the situation, Massa said, especially to reinforce health care centres.

He also asked pregnant women, the most vulnerable group, to consult doctors in case they have influenza-like symptoms.

Treatment will now be available for suspected patients, and not only for confirmed cases, as used to be the case, the official added.

Earlier yesterday educational institutions suspended classes in several provinces due to the H1N1 virus.
In the provinces of Santa Fe, San Luis, Santiago del Estero, Entre Ríos and Corrientes local authorities yesterday decided to suspend classes in primary and secondary schools, after confirming cases of H1N1 influenza among students or as a preventive measure.

The dentistry faculty of the Buenos Aires University (UBA) reported a professor and a student died with influenza-like symptoms, and decided to suspend classes at that institution. So did the La Plata Medical School and another university in Santa Fe in order to prevent the flu from spreading.

UBA authorities were to meet today to decide preventive measures. La Plata’s Medical School meanwhile decided to suspend classes.

Health authorities have confirmed 1,587 cases from the new strain of virus, also known as swine flu, which is spreading in several provinces. A total of 28 people have  died so far due to the virus, making Argentina the South American country with the highest number of deaths.

The outbreak has lead to hospitals being overwhelmed as flu cases swamp emergency rooms, and some health centres even recognized they have collapsed due to the cases.

• Three more people die of Influenza A