Distrust in Argentina by the official figure of deaths from influenza A

* The humanitarian organization accuses the government of manipulating the figures

Ramy Wurgaft | Buenos Aires
Updated 11/07/2009 01:06 hours Saturday

Argentina and start removing the protective mask and returned to attend cinemas and nightclubs, where once again sounded the alarm.

The filial argentina Doctors warned the world on the afternoon of Friday, which may be more of the 240 fatalities caused by Influenza A. The figure showed that the perpetrators of this NGO, is three times higher than that recorded the final report of the Ministry of Health. "If they say the authorities are 100,000 people infected by the H1N1 virus, it is impossible that only 82 deaths. This figure defies the basic concepts of statistics and is equal to saying that the sun revolves around the Earth" said Gonzalo Basile, head of the same organization that assisted the poorest Argentines during the dengue outbreak that the country suffered three months ago.

At that time, Doctors of the World reported that the Government did not take the measures outlined to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito, transmitter of the virus. Now back to the barricades, blaming the executive branch of the importance of the new epidemic. At a press conference convened at the headquarters of the agency, Basile noted that political considerations, the government headed by Cristina Fernández is played to the flu. "Prior to the elections (from June 28) the issue was not on the agenda and not, nor is adopted preventive measures," said Basile. "Just as of July 29 Argentines, we learned that influenza is a threat to our health," he added.
Official figures' unreliable '

The doctor Javier Montano, another leader of the humanitarian organization, said that official figures were "very reliable" and demanded the implementation of a reform in the health system so that all citizens are treated equally. The doctor was referring to low-income sectors in and around Buenos Aires and the provinces of northern Argentina. "Until today, each municipality is taking measures at their discretion and that as the virus passes from one region to another," said Montano. On the alleged data manipulation by the authorities, the doctor said that "the same thing happened with dengue and that worries us."

A few hours earlier, the Ministry of Health, Juan Manzur, pointed out that "there is a marked decline in cases, especially in metropolitan Buenos Aires, but warned an increase in the number of consultations within the country." From Ezeiza Airport, where he went to receive a shipment of 100 doses of Flu, Manzur told reporters that the Argentina passes mitigation stage of the virus and that people can look to the future with greater optimism.
hat-tip Shiloh