Mexican authorities accused of initial cover up over swine flu…
Dr Antonio Chavez, a specialist in respiratory diseases at the Mexico National Institute of Health, said there was panic as medical staff in Mexico City struggled to deal with the problem.
Another doctor claimed that in the early stages, staff were asked not to place the reason for dying on the death certificates.
More than 100 deaths in Mexico have been connected to the swine flu, but only 18 cases have been definitively linked to the virus through laboratory testing.
A further 1,600 people have complained of flu-like symptoms since the authorities publicised their concern about the virus on April 23.
Mexico was not aware of the novel strain of swine flu until tests were carried out by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in America at the end of April.
It is thought the virus – which mainly strikes people in their 20s and 30s – had been prevalent in Mexico since the beginning of March.
Dr Chavez said: “There is a severe emergency over the swine flu here. More and more patients are being admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite the heroic efforts of all staff – doctors, nurses, specialists – patients continue to inevitably die.”
Writing on BBC Online, he said many medical staff were scared of catching the virus: “The infection risk is very high among the doctors and health staff.
“There is a sense of chaos in the other hospitals and we do not know what to do. Staff are starting to leave and many are opting to retire or apply for holidays.
“The truth is that mortality is even higher than what is being reported by the authorities, at least in the hospital where I work.
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