MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bolivia considering closing border with Argentina because of the flu

Minister Tapia announced the drastic measures

Bolivia is considering temporarily closing part of its extended border with Argentina, (773 kilometres long), because of the outbreak and quick spread of the A/H1N1 virus flu in that country, anticipated Health minister Ramiro Tapia over the weekend.

“We are concerned with what is happening in Argentina” where the A/H1N1 virus has already caused over 60 deaths said Tapia adding that he was waiting for more information from his Argentine peer to have a more precise idea of the pandemic magnitude.

The first thing will be “to double the number of doctors and sanitary staff along the border, mainly at the Tarija border area; but if we have evidence that the number of flu cases originating in Argentina continues to increase we would have to close the border for three, four, five days to prevent the spread of the virus”.

Further on the Bolivian minister said that with 1.100 reported cases and such extended borders, in Tarija but also in Potosí, we must redouble efforts”.

The A/H1N1 virus flu continues to expand in Bolivia and so far there are 416 confirmed cases, averaging 70 more suspicious cases per day. The worst hit area is the province of Santa Cruz with 219 positive cases.

Beginning this week public transport staff in Santa Cruz must compulsorily distribute mouth and nose masks and alcohol gel among passengers, announced local authorities.

The quick spread of the virus in seven of Bolivia’s nine provinces has forced authorities to limit public meetings, rallies and mass concentrations plus extending schools winter holidays for another week.

According to the latest World Health Organization report, Bolivia has 416 confirmed cases of the virus flu and no deaths.