Diego Maradona will not like this...

Argentine football legend, Diego Armando Maradona, will not like this news report.

The Guardian today reported that substantial amount of international tourists have cancelled their trips to Argentina as swine flu death toll in that country, reached 137, making Argentina the 2nd worst hit in terms of the virus fatality, behind the United States.

Currently there are 211 deaths, caused by the pandemic in the USA.

In Argentina, travel agents and airlines have reported a sharp drop in business amid concern that the death toll will continue to rise during the rest of the southern hemisphere's winter.

An unfamiliar quiet has descended over some of Buenos Aires's tourist quarters, with many restaurants and theatres closed or deserted. Ski resorts such as Bariloche, which are normally packed at this time, have rooms to spare. Hotels, restaurants, and shops said they were losing around US$150 million (£95m) weekly.

The vice president of Spain, Maria Teresa Fernández de la Vega, has decided to bypass Argentina on a forthcoming South America tour, reportedly because of the A (H1N1) virus.

The Brazilian airline GOL cancelled some chartered flights to its neighbour after passengers numbers dropped by half. Brazil's government has advised against travel to Argentina and Chile, also badly hit. Some travel agents have reported a 50 percent drop in travelers.

The British Foreign Office updated its travel advice to warn that Buenos Aires and 17 provinces had declared a health emergency. It does not urge Britons to stay away but is not exactly encouraging.

The authorities hope recent temporary restrictions will curb the epidemic. Schools, universities, cinemas, theatres, and gymnasiums were closed and pregnant women and children were among those urged to stay indoors.

The Catholic church urged worshippers to sit far apart, to avoid handshakes, and to take the communion wafer in their hands rather than directly on the tongue. Doctors urged people to not greet each other with a kiss and to not share mate, a herbal drink traditionally drunk from a straw and passed between friends.

The government said yesterday the worst may be over. The numbers reporting flu symptoms has reportedly halved in recent days. Theatres, which were shut for the past 10 days, said they would reopen this weekend but appealed to the sick to stay away.

I wonder wether the football stadiums across Argentina will also see a drastic drop in fans attendance??

I used to watch over the TV, football stadiums in Argentina are always jam packed whenever top teams in the Argentine league are playing.

Top teams include Independiente, Boca Juniors, Argentinos Juniors and River Plate - these 4 are like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and my all time favourite - Liverpool in the English Premier League.

Say no to H1N1, say yes to Liverpool and Diego Armando Maradona.

Malaysia confirms first case of H1N1

source - The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.

All passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark on Wednesday are urged to contact the Health Ministry by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the case made Malaysia the 36th country to be affected by the virus.

Malaysia is now on high alert,” said Liow, who is in London now, enroute to Geneva, for a World Health Organisation meeting. He added he would return earlier than his scheduled return next Friday.

Liow said Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha who is now the acting Health Minister would hold a press conference with the deputy health director general Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat at Putra Jaya at 3pm

Meanwhile, A statement by the Health Ministry's director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalised on Thursday for fever, sore throat and body aches.

Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus, the statement said. He is receiving anti-viral treatment and was in stable condition, it said.

Ismail said the ministry had contacted members of his family but they have not been placed under quarantine.

Ismail said his department was taking steps to protect public health and that there was no reason to panic.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that a man from Bukit Mertajam held under observation at the isolation ward of the Penang Hospital has been declared free of Influenza A (H1N1).

"We just got a report that the blood test on the 26-year-old man was negative," State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said when contacted by Bernama Friday.

A test on a sample of his blood had been sent to Kuala Lumpur.

The man was kept for observation Thursday after he was found to have fever and symptoms similar to those of Influenza A (H1N1) on his return from the United States.

Two weeks ago, a New Zealand tourist was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) but a blood test also showed up negative.

H1NI, first alert in Sabah

In KOTA KINABALU, flu symptoms in an elderly Canadian tourist had sent Sabah health authorities into their first alert.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said the 71-year-old man however tested negative for the virus after being quarantined overnight at a designated isolation centre in Kepayan. He was released on Thursday.

“Our health authorities will remain vigilant for those who could be infected by the virus,” he said after chairing the State Security Council meeting Thursday.

Musa, who had earlier been briefed by Sabah Health Department director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa, said the man had arrived on May 5 and after a week became ill and suffered from fever and a sore throat.

Musa said the Canadian visited a private medical clinic at Luyang on May 12 and the doctor there immediately alerted Health Department officials who took the man to the quarantine centre.

The man’s blood sample was sent to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and he was released early Thursday after the test showed a negative result for the virus.

Symptoms of Swine Flu