By Xinhua,
Mexico City : Authorities in Mexico city have lowered the epidemiological alert level to green after a month-long outbreak of influenza A(H1N1), which has killed 75 people in the country so far.
“The cases of infection reported and confirmed by laboratories have shown a remarkable lower-trend in recent days,” said city mayor Marcelo Ebrard, citing a report from the city’s Scientific Committee on Health and Epidemiological Vigilance.
The last new confirmed case of infection was reported seven days ago, and the (students’) return to classes… has not caused a single known case of infection,” he said.
Mexico closed all its educational institutions April 24 and began reopening them May 7.
Though the city’s alert level has been lowered, the committee urged citizens to continue with the protection measures, such as using facemasks in crowded places, washing hands frequently, sneezing into a handkerchief or inside the elbow, and seeing a doctor quickly instead of going to work when any sign of illness appears.
After the flu outbreak, Mexico City had declared a state of red alert, closing all businesses and establishments that were deemed non-essential.
Armando Ahued Ortega, head of the city’s health department, said the capital will continue to apply some of the measures brought in during the emergency, including regular deep cleaning of public transport facilities and city-owned educational institutions.
Schools would continue the sanitary cordon till the end of August, checking students for flu-like symptoms at the school gate, stopping the ill from entry, teaching children with mild symptoms separately and allowing only the healthy to use normal facilities.