Mexico City flu hospitalizations fall to 43

Source: Xinhua | 05-08-2009 09:57

MEXICO CITY, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Mexico City on Thursday reported no new deaths of A/H1N1 flu and only 43 in its hospitals with flu-like symptoms, and began a deep clean of primary schools ahead of Monday's reopening of schools and nursery facilities.

"Starting today, we are starting to sanitize and clean all the educational centres that belong to the Mexico City government thoroughly," Axel Didriksson Takayanagui, head of education in the city, told a press conference.

High schools and universities reopened on Wednesday after a week's closure intended to slow the spread of the disease. Primary schools and nurseries are set to reopen on Monday.

Mexico City, the worst hit area in the world, has now gone six days without a new death. Some 21 patients left city hospitals during the last 24 hours, having recovered from the flu, while only four new patients were admitted to hospital with symptoms consistent with AH1N1.

The city will clean 285 schools in Mexico City, supplying them with colorinated water using tanker trucks, at a cost of around 100 million pesos (7.57 million U.S. dollars), said Jorge Arganis Diaz Leal, the city's head of public works.

"In addition, the Health Ministry and the Water System will maintain a strict control in chlorine levels in cisterns and tanks," said Diaz.

Earlier on Thursday, the World Health Organization said there are now 2,099 cases spread across 23 countries with 44 having died from the disease. Mexico remains the worst hit nation with 1,112 confirmed cases and 42 deaths, followed by the United States with 642 confirmed cases and two deaths and Canada with 201 cases.

Editor:Zhang Yun