By Dulce Gamiño, Alejandra Olalde and Milburga Rodríguez
Translation by Patricia Roxana Solórzano
Translation by Patricia Roxana Solórzano
During the last month, both countries faced an epidemic caused by a bud of H1N1 virus, commonly named Human Flu. On the nighttime news of April 23, Dr. José Ángel Córdova, the Mexican Secretary of Health announced to the nation the presence of the virus and the actions that would be taken in order to avoid its transmission. They included the suspension of academic activities from preschool to university level and also of cultural and other ambiances where conglomerations could take place.
From that moment on, the Mexican government asked for the people’s support in order to avoid the spread of the virus. The use of a facemask was suggested when people gathered with more than five individuals in an enclosed area. Later on, stores, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, shopping malls, and companies were given a recommendation to shut down until the crisis had passed. In some states there was an explicit prohibition of any commercial activity. The only exception was made for stores that sold basic need products such as supermarkets and banks.
This event has caused a dramatic descent of the Mexican economic activity; there has been a reduction of the Gross Internal Product (GIP) of 5.2% in 2009. This crisis stole the Mexican people’s attention and deviated it from other concerns such as the world economic crisis and government’s decisions such as the legalization of drug possession and the migration issues with the United States.
From that moment on, the Mexican government asked for the people’s support in order to avoid the spread of the virus. The use of a facemask was suggested when people gathered with more than five individuals in an enclosed area. Later on, stores, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, shopping malls, and companies were given a recommendation to shut down until the crisis had passed. In some states there was an explicit prohibition of any commercial activity. The only exception was made for stores that sold basic need products such as supermarkets and banks.
This event has caused a dramatic descent of the Mexican economic activity; there has been a reduction of the Gross Internal Product (GIP) of 5.2% in 2009. This crisis stole the Mexican people’s attention and deviated it from other concerns such as the world economic crisis and government’s decisions such as the legalization of drug possession and the migration issues with the United States.
The Mexican government took several actions to face this illness, but the problem was that people did not want to cooperate with the Mexican government's advices. That fact is one of the principal reasons that the illness grew so fast. If people had taken those actions or advices, maybe the illness would not be so dangerous and the commercial activity would not have had to stop those days. The Mexican economy was in a big trouble, and now the situation is worst, so I think we have to work all together with the newest plans of the government to recover all the money that the government lost.
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