Argentina-Swine flu 4 cases reported.

ARGENTINA-SWINE FLU 4 CASES.

The Health Ministry yesterday reported that four suspected cases of swine flu are under study, while prevention measures are being taken to avoid the virus from entering the country.

Health Minister Graciela Ocaña yesterday visited the Ezeiza International Airport to supervise prevention measures being implemented, and announced that in the following days a special ward will be set up there to hospitalize possible influenza patients. Machines that sense people’s body temperature were installed to find out if travellers coming from Mexico, or having stopped there on their way to Argentina, have fever.

Ocaña said the situation is "serious," and that the government is taking all the necessary prevention measures, but that the people’s help is needed to face the virus. She asked those who are travelling to countries where swine flu cases were detected to postpone their trips, and those who present influenza-like symptoms to consult a health care centre.

The National Migrations Office yesterday announced they will start controlling, as from today, passengers arriving from neighbouring countries by air, land or sea. Passengers will be questioned about their health condition.

The Foreign Ministry meanwhile yesterday reinforced assistance for Argentines living in Mexico to aid, inform and help them solve problems that may arise from the suspension of direct flights from that country until Monday, due to the swine flu epidemic. National Health Ministry officials yesterday presented the daily report on the situation in the country. They said there are no confirmed cases of swine flu, and that out of 25 possible cases, 21 had been ruled out and four are being studied at the Malbrán Institute.

The swine flu crisis committee, headed by Cabinet Chief Sergio Massa, will report daily on the situation. The report will be released every day at 7.30pm at the Health Ministry.

In related news, the number of people with dengue in Chaco yesterday totalled10,127, the government said.

Most of the cases detected since the beginning of the epidemic have already been solved, they added. Meanwhile, provincial Health Minister Sandra Mendoza yesterday said that she tested negative for that disease. Two weeks ago the government official presented dengue-like symptoms, but studies ruled out the possibility that Mendoza was infected.