Swine Flu: Who is to blame?
Mexico's top epidemiologist said today the World Health Organisation was slow to react to an outbreak of atypical pneumonia that grew into the swine flu epidemic, and demanded a probe.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Dr Miguel Angel Lezana said he is troubled by the response of the Pan American Health Organisation, or PAHO, and its parent organisation, the WHO, in the early days of the outbreak.
Dr Lezana, director of the National Epidemiology Centre, said it notified PAHO on April 16 about the outbreak in Mexico, but that action was not taken until eight days later, when the WHO announced the spreading epidemic.
Asked if he would want an internal or independent investigation of PAHO and the
WHO's actions, Dr Lezana said: "It is a decision they should take."
Mexico has imposed what amounts to a five-day shutdown of the country, beginning today, in the hope of slowing the virus. All but the most essential government services will be suspended, most businesses have been urged to close, and Mexicans have been encouraged to stay in their homes.
Mexico's top medical officer voiced optimism last night that swine flu has slowed in the nation hardest hit by the virus, but the World Health Organisation cautioned there is no evidence the worst of the global outbreak is over.
The US caseload rose slightly to 130 as hundreds of schools nationwide shut their doors, and the crisis even reached the White House, which said an aide to the secretary of energy apparently got sick helping arrange a presidential trip to Mexico.
