Prince George, B.C.- Canadians travelling to Mexico are being advised there are clusters of a flu- like illness in the central and south regions of that country.

 

So far, a little over a hundred cases have been reported in Mexico, and while that number may not seem significant in a country with a population of 100 million, the experts say there are some features of the illness which are  causing concern. 

 

This month, two clusters of severe respiratory infections with death have been reported.  One such cluster was in Mexico City, the other, in San Luis Potosi. Mexico City has reported 120 cases including 13 deaths while San Luis Potosi, in central Mexico, has reported 14 cases including four deaths.   There  has also been  one death reported in Oaxaca, in southern Mexico and two deaths reported in Baja California Norte, which borders California.

 

The National MicroBiology Lab in Winnipeg is working with Mexican officials in the investigation of the illness . The Pan American Health Organization — the World Health Organization’s Americas branch — is also working with Mexican authorities to look into the reports.

 

The province has asked that all clinical and public health partners around the province be extra vigilant, increase screening and report any unusual illness, especially in travelers returning from Mexico. 

It is not uncommon for there to be a greater incidence of respiratory illness amongst the public at this time of year. Like seasonal influenza, severe respiratory infections are also transmitted from person to person via the respiratory route. Coughs and sneezes release germs into the air where they can be breathed in by others.

 

SRI symptoms from those seriously ill in Mexico include