Although Jalisco has more swine flu cases than almost anywhere on earth in 2012, both local authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) have said there is no cause for panic.
With 5,468 cases confirmed up to March 3, 2012 and 77 percent of cases worldwide, Mexico leads the A-H1N1 influenza rankings. It is followed by the United States, with 932 cases and Sweden, with 67 cases, according to the WHO.
Jalisco is the worst hit state in Mexico with 579 cases and 16 deaths – the fourth highest number of fatalities in the country. The WHO says it is also the region with the third highest number of cases worldwide.“The A-H1N1 flu is here to stay in Mexico and the region,” acknowledged Humberto Montiel Paredes, supervisor of the prevention and control of diseases of the WHO and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Mexico. But he also said neither the central office of the WHO or PAHO had considered issuing a warning or declaring a state of emergency in Mexico.
The Jalisco Health Ministry (SSJ) said there is a simple explanation as to why Mexico and specifically Jalisco have so many confirmed cases: greater vigilance.
“Mexico is the country that samples the most number of cases … around the country, Jalisco has the most samples taken,” said Antonio Muñoz Serrano, head of the SSJ. “So to compare Mexico with other countries is not appropriate.”