MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile reports third death of influenza and declares “sanitary emergency”

The A/H1N1 virus is now officially and epidemic

Chile officially declared state of sanitary emergency as the A/H1N1 influenza cases raised again in the last hours, with 3125 confirmed, three deaths and many blood samples still undergoing laboratory expertise.

The decree, which was published Thursday in the official gazette, gives extraordinary powers to Chilean health services. The decree establishes that the H1N1 A virus is now officially “an epidemic” and that for such reason, it is “essential to give Health Ministry extraordinary powers.”

The Ministry will, for example, be able to contract emergency medical personnel or move forces from a medical institution to another, as well as acquire goods, services or equipment which would be necessary to face the epidemic, without waiting for the government's approval.

All suspicious or dubious cases will be signalled and doctors are be authorized to maintain someone in quarantine in case the person was in contact with someone who is infected. Antiviral medication will be given out for free for everyone who might need it.

3125 cases have been confirmed in Chile and three were lethal. Most of the people who contracted the disease in Chile were between 5 and 19 years old

Chile's Health Ministry said that the confirmed cases of the country's flu infection had reached 3,125, but that 77% of those infected had recovered fully. The ministry said that 87 people, or 2.7% of those infected, are currently very seriously ill with the disease. The remaining 20.3% are being treated for the flu, but are well enough to stay at home.

The latest death is a 40-year man from Puerto Montt who had been in an intensive care unit with an oxygen respirator support. The other two are a56-year man from Osorno and a gas-fitter, 37, from Puerto Montt.