Position Paper- Mexico
Committee Name: The spread of H1N1
Committee Topic: Prevention of the spread of H1N1
Country Name: Untied Mexico States
Delegates: Anne

H1N1 is a new influenza virus first detected in people in United States in April, 2009. It continued spreading throughout the summer of 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide and it spreads in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. There are now over 2800 people worldwide have died from H1N1. (Update to Sep. 7, 2009 from WHO) According to WHO, the first doses will be available to governments for use in September. And DHH (Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital) believed that the H1N1 flu vaccination should begin as soon as the vaccine is available, most likely late October or early November.
The death toll caused by the H1N1 influenza rose to 125 in Mexico. All Mexico’s 31 states and capitals have reported cases of disease, most of which were found in Chiapas, Mexico City, Yucatan, Tabasco, Veracruz, Jalisco, Guerrero, San Luis Potosi and Michoacán. According to The Mexican Health Ministry, 52 percent of the dead were female. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is preparing to respond to influenza in the fall. It is working with providers throughout the state including hospitals, clinics and pharmacists, to provide vaccinations to protect people against the new strain of influenza (H1N1) and seasonal influenza. It is important to get protected against both strains of influenza. The Department of Health is planning for storage and distribution of antiviral, establishing an inventory of personal protective equipment, training hospitals on medical surge, and developing educational materials to explain what specialized populations can do to prevent and respond to flu cases. It is tracking hospitalized H1N1 cases and monitoring for a change in disease severity. We hope we can provide protect to our citizens from the danger of H1N1 and we need everyone to work together to save our citizens.
Bibliography
http://nmhealth.org/ (The New Mexico Department of Health)
http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/default-145.asp?ID=145 (DHH- Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital)
http://big5.ce.cn/gate/big5/en.ce.cn/subject/swineflu/swineflum/200907/17/t20090717_19564271.shtml (China Economy Net)
http://www.un.org/en/ (United Nation)