MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Sanitary long weekend” in Argentina with 99 A/flu virus

The A/H1N1 virus is rapidly spreading in South America displacing seasonal influenza

Millions of Argentines stayed home from work on Friday, as the A/H1N1 virus influenza continues to spread during the South American winter season. The latest official report from Argentina’s Public Health Ministry indicates 99 deaths caused by the A/flu

Businesses including banks, exchange houses, courts and even the stock exchange were shuttered for 24 hours across Argentina. Combined with Thursday's Independence Day holiday, Argentines effectively got a four-day weekend during which many stayed home and avoided contact with strangers.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner decreed a day off for federal public employees, and a number of regional governments also observed the break — including Buenos Aires province, home to nearly two-fifths of the country's population.

The goal was to “avoid public gatherings,” provincial Health Minister Claudio Zin said, and lessen the person-to-person spread of the virus blamed for the 99 deaths so far in the country. At least 2.677 cases of swine flu have been confirmed.

Federal Health minister Juan Manzur revealed that the predominant influenza virus in winter Argentina is the A/H1N1, “almost 80%, with the rest seasonal virus”.

The government has already doubled the winter vacation to a month for schools, sent pregnant women and other vulnerable workers home for 15 days and urged people to avoid crowds whenever possible.

Some cities went further and shut all cinemas, others halted all public events and at least one ordered restaurants to leave a 3-yard (2.5-meter) space between tables. The government has not banned all large gatherings, saying such a drastic measure is not necessary.

Argentina has now more confirmed A/flu deaths than any nation on the continent and trails only the US (170) and Mexico (121) worldwide.

The virus has been found across South America and neighbouring Chile has reported far more cases of people sickened: more than 9,500 cases and 25 deaths. In Uruguay on Friday, health officials confirmed nine fatalities from swine flu.