As Americans we are resilient, unless ill with the H1N1 flu virus we will go about our normal lives despite what Joe Biden says -- I kid, Mr. Vice-President, thank the President for the shout out -- and continue to fly on planes, take public transportation and eat our BLTs!  Below is some recent news about the H1N1 virus.

The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of today, 11 countries have officially reported 331 cases of H1N1 infection. The United States has reported 109 laboratory confirmed cases, including one death. Mexico has reported 156 confirmed cases of infection, including nine deaths. The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (34), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (8). [WHO Update]

Most Ridiculous Reaction to Date
Egypt has announced and begun carrying out the culling of all the nations' 300,000 pigs. This is occurring despite the fact that Egypt has no known cases of swine flu, and the H1N1 virus we are concerned about is not spread by pigs…..it is a respiratory virus spread from person-to-person.

News from Mexico

For 5 days starting today, the Mexican government is suspending nonessential services, advising non-critical businesses to close, and urging people to stay home, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Below is a fact sheet prepared by the Embassy of Mexico in the US on Mexico’s response to the influenza outbreak.

Mexico was prepared:

Mexico, the US and Canada have been preparing for five years, working in close cooperation knowing that a situation like this might emerge. During that time Mexico collaborated with the U.S. on emergency planning, including pandemic scenario exercises and worked with U.S. and Canadian labs to set up protocols and plans to quickly identify possible pandemic outbreaks. The results of that collaboration are that Mexico has systems in place to manage this situation, including the possibility that it evolves into a pandemic, and has begun to implement those plans.

Mexico has taken responsible actions:

From the moment the first case of this new H1N1 influenza was detected, the Mexican Government quickly recognized the seriousness of the situation and took immediate and responsible steps to protect its citizens and those traveling to Mexico from exposure to the flu virus, to contain its spread and to treat those who have become ill.

Mexico’s strategy to deal with this matter has two main elements: 1) To detect and treat all cases; 2) To stop its transmission through preventive measures. The Government has undertaken a massive media campaign to advise its citizens – and the world – of the health situation as it evolves and ordered emergency measures to limit exposure to the virus.

President Felipe Calderon has personally taken the lead in this effort. At his direction, the Ministry of Health has taken aggressive action to deal with the outbreak. These actions include the application of glucose solutions, vaccines and other preventive and therapeutic resources; the use of all existing medical and social assistance resources of the public, social and private sectors; the acquisition at both national and international levels of medical and laboratory equipment, surgical and dressing materials, and cleansing products. Additionally, the Mexican Army has distributed 6 million mouth masks.

The Government has also ordered the cancellation of public events where large numbers of people congregate so as to prevent transmission of the virus. All schools and educational institutions in the country have been closed until May 6th as a preventive measure, while the Government has urged people who feel sick to seek appropriate medical care immediately if their symptoms warrant.

The Government is gathering information rapidly from multiple sources to try to discover the source of the virus and what can be done to control its spread.

Mexico is acting globally to contain the outbreak:

Due to the seriousness of the situation, Mexico is acting with its North American partners and with health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization to contain the outbreak. Even though only a relatively small number of people in Mexico and elsewhere have contacted H1N1 influenza and the World Health Organization has not issued any travel restrictions, all potential travelers should consider the guidance and recommendations of relevant agencies.

Mexico is committed to transparency:

Mexico recognizes that as a responsible member of the world community, it has an obligation to be transparent and to provide a full accounting to other governments and organizations – and to the public – of developments in Mexico related to this outbreak. It remains fully committed to treating those in Mexico who have fallen ill and preventing the further spread of this disease.