Schools closed in most of Argentina over A(H1N1) influenza

Jul 1, 2009, 0:38 GMT

Buenos Aires - Authorities in Buenos Aires and the surrounding province - which together have close to half the population of Argentina - moved Tuesday to close schools to slow the spread of the new A(H1N1) influenza virus.

Provincial authorities on Tuesday confirmed the deaths of two more flu patients, bringing the country's death toll to 30. The latest national report on Friday placed the number of people infected at 1,587.

Only Mexico and the United States have had more deaths in the ongoing flu pandemic.

With the latest moves, 11 of Argentina's 23 provinces plus the autonomous capital have closed schools for varying durations due to the new flu.

In Buenos Aires, the suspension of classes was set to start Monday and to last for two weeks. Students would be out of school for close to a month until August 3, with the usual two-week winter holidays starting July 20.

'What we are trying to avoid is that the children spend a lot of time together, since they are the first link in a chain of infection,' said Buenos Aires provincial Health Minister Claudio Zin.

The provinces of Santa Fe, San Luis, Santiago del Estero, Neuquen, Entre Rios, Santa Cruz, Chaco, Corrientes, Cordoba and Tierra del Fuego also implemented school closures.

Authorities were contemplating more drastic measures against the virus, including a ban on mass gatherings such as sports events, cinema and theatre performances, and even activity in shopping malls.

The upcoming decisive game of the Argentine football championship between Buenos Aires clubs Huracan and Velez Sarsfield, scheduled for Sunday, was liable to being played before empty stands.

Experts noted that drastic measures against the flu should have been adopted at least a week earlier, and that even Health Minister Graciela Ocana - who resigned Monday - favoured a postponement of the midterm legislative election that was held Sunday. The government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner reportedly refused.