Mexican envoy warns against finger-pointing over new-flu epidemic+

TOKYO, June 5 Kyodo -
Mexican Ambassador to Japan Miguel Ruiz-Cabanas warned Friday against blaming a
specific country or region where new-flu infections are believed to have
originated, saying enhancing international cooperation to deal with the
epidemic is more important.
''We should not attack and question the responsibility of a specific country or
area'' with regard to where the new influenza outbreak first occurred, the
envoy told a press conference at the Japan National Press Club. ''It would be
more important for the world to join hands in tackling the status quo,'' he
said.
The ambassador said the latest tally shows that new-flu infections in Mexico
have reached 5,717, including 106 deaths, with the mortality rate hitting 1.9
percent. The rate is far higher than that for seasonal influenza, which is
believed to be about 0.1 percent.
He also said health authorities are yet to trace the true origin of the new
type of influenza A in his country.
Ruiz-Cabanas speculated that his country was hardest hit by the disease because
many people did not bother to see a doctor in the initial stage of the
epidemic, believing they had contracted normal influenza and that their
condition would improve if they stayed home for a few days.
The ambassador cast doubts on the general belief that poorer people in Mexico
succumbed to the flu, saying data collected so far suggest that many deaths
were reported among those living in urban areas and suffering from metabolic
syndrome, or lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes.
Of those who died from the new flu in Mexico, 37.7 percent had developed
lifestyle-related illnesses or had health problems caused partly by obesity,
18.9 percent had suffered from heart disease and cardiovascular disorders and
11.3 percent had been regular smokers, the envoy said.
The ambassador said the spread of new-flu infections has had a ''significant
negative impact'' on the Mexican tourism industry, but there have been signs
that the number of visitors will pick up.
About 22.5 million people visit Mexico every year and the Latin American
country is eighth in the world's ranking of most-visited countries, the envoy
said.
==Kyodo