Renowned infectious disease specialist Daniel Stamboulián said Argentina is going through the first half of the pandemic phase of the virus. "The next three weeks will be extremely important to know how it will diminish," he added.

He also said it is impossible and unnecessary for the laboratories to report all the cases. Stamboulián estimated cases in Argentina may total 3 million. He also emphasized the Argentine situation is quite similar to the current scenario of the neighboring countries. Regarding the prevention of the virus, Dr. Daniel Stamboulián said people showing H1N1-flu like symptoms must be isolated to avoid transmitting the virus to their relatives or work mates. "Health masks are falsely safe," he asserted.

What is the situation in Argentina regarding the Influenza A (H1N1)?

The Influenza A (H1N1) appeared in Argentina three weeks ago. Flu outbreaks and new viruses like this one usually last six weeks, so there are three weeks remaining. This is a very dynamic scenario, the virus grows, it remains stable, but we are certainly in the middle of the pandemic.

Can we consider official data real?

First of all we need to know that confirmed cases don't actually show the real prevalence of the virus. Even in the USA, where data are properly reported, there must be 5-10 actual cases for each reported case. That happens here too. The interesting fact is that seasonal flu usually affects 10% of the population. This means there are about 1.5 to 3 million infected people in the country. Pandemics usually affect 20 to 40% of the population. Health Minister Manzur actually said there are more than 100.000 infected people. Laboratories can't cope with all the work.

So, what are the actual figures?

I think 10- 20% of the Argentine population is infected. This means we will probably reach more than 3 million cases in the country.

Why didn't the virus affect the neighboring countries as much as it did to Argentina?

Chile was also affected by the virus, and some cases are being detected in Uruguay. I think it spreads country by country. We have a serious situation here in Argentina, but Chile has a similar scenario, because this is a pandemic disease spreading across countries. I think there are no major differences among South-American countries.

Is it possible that more restrictive measures could have been taken to avoid the entry of the virus?

According to the World Health Organization, it is impossible to restrict and control the virus by diminishing international trips. The virus is easily transmitted and has hit more than 100 countries, but the virus doesn't travel along with the people. There are confirmed cases attributed to autochthonous transmission cases and the virus is definitely among us.

What are the specialists concerned about today in relation to Influenza A (H1N1)?

We are worried about those young adults who don't belong to risk groups comprised by associated diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. These young adults show flu symptoms and after the third day they suffer from severe pneumonia and must use an artificial respirator. That explains why Intensive Care Units have collapsed in Argentina.

What are the reasons for such a high death toll?

We were able to see some treatments were applied too late, because patients in risk groups received priority treatment. And we could see that situation not only in Argentina but also in Mexico. Now we know that if a patient has Influenza A (H1N1), we can only advise him to take the medicine as soon as possible. I think the number of victims was related to the delay in the application of some treatments. The number of fatalities is lower abroad, because they are used to deal with patients admitted to the intensive care units. The Argentine system has collapsed. Now we can say being prepared for a pandemic disease means improving our intensive care units.

Are there enough doses of antiviral medication in Argentina?

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner told us the government purchased around 2 million doses. This medication is available. It is even sold in drugstores, and the national government is handing it out for free on prescription only.

Was the health emergency declared too late?

I think it was timely declared when patients who didn't belong to any risk group began to die. The health emergency is a very necessary administrative measure. The problem here is that this virus is very dynamic.

What about the other measures?

Closing schools is an appropriate measure due to the current cold weather, in order to reduce the transmission of the virus among children, who are easily affected since they don't have enough antibodies. We will decide if it is necessary to take other measures within the next few days. I don't think public shows or sport arenas should be closed. Infected people mustn't' attend those places.

What can people expect from Influenza A (H1N1)? When will it diminish?

Influenza A (H1N1) works arbitrarily. We are going through the third or fourth week of its outbreak. It may strike harder, but it also may diminish under standard conditions, but we are about to have a period of seasonal flu and we will have to study how they both interact

Is it advisable to vaccine people against seasonal flu amidst the H1N1 flu outbreak?

Seasonal flu vaccine was not created to fight against Influenza A (H1N1), but we can't say it is not useful. For instance, fatalities in Mexico hadn't been vaccinated, but vaccinated people became less complicated cases. If you weren't vaccinated, you can do it because antibodies develop ten days after the application. It is important to understand the vaccine is a dead protein that works as a stimulus for the antibodies to develop within a week.

Is it advisable to wear health masks?

Scientific studies have proven health masks are falsely safe. Health masks are not useful when you are at the subway station, at the airport, or in the street. Health masks are necessary when the doctor is seeing his patients, or when a sick patient is one meter closed to another person, since the risk of contagious can diminish due to the use of health masks. Otherwise, it is no good to use them

What preventive measures should be taken at work?

We have to be aware of the fact that anyone showing H1N1 flu-like symptoms must not go to work. Pregnant women must respect the 15-day leave.

What about the children?

Parents ought to be imaginative during this winter recess. They can take their children outdoor and avoid usually crowded venues.

What about public places?

We have to carry on with our normal life. If you take the bus or the subway, try to be as far as you can from the people next to you in public transportation. That's all we can do. If we are infected, it is important to be isolated in order to avoid transmitting the disease, to see a doctor and take the medication as soon as possible.

What is the incubation period for the virus?

Flu symptoms usually develop within three to five days of contact with an infected person. If symptoms don't appear after the fifth day, you are not infected.

It is rumored that dengue fever is likely to hit harder this spring season...

We have reported 25.000 dengue cases. I think dengue fever lays dormant due to cold weather. But we have to be really careful, since larvae live for 14 months under cold weather conditions and eventually they replicate. I think dengue fever is a severe problem, and we will have to work really hard to fight it, implementing the sanitary measures taken by Colombia and Cuba: Medicine students trying to avoid water stagnation door to door.

Are the prevention measures being taken correctly?

Yes, because we are working on this since last August. I think we have to stress our work in the Buenos Aires city and Greater Buenos Aires because the mosquito is present in the zone.

Interview by Guillermo Gammacurta and Pablo Jiménez for ambito.com