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Flu 'source' village besieged | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
By Matthew Price BBC News, La Gloria, southern Mexico A medical cordon has been set up around La Gloria | By Matthew Price BBC News, La Gloria, southern Mexico A medical cordon has been set up around La Gloria |
In his white lab coat, Dr Alejandro Cevallos is going door to door. His helper bangs the iron gate outside each house in La Gloria. | In his white lab coat, Dr Alejandro Cevallos is going door to door. His helper bangs the iron gate outside each house in La Gloria. |
There is a deep metallic boom as they look to see if anyone is home. | There is a deep metallic boom as they look to see if anyone is home. |
Dr Cevallos does not wear a mask - he says that would be counterproductive and scare the villagers. | Dr Cevallos does not wear a mask - he says that would be counterproductive and scare the villagers. |
In one home the man says he feels ill, and he is worried he might have the virus. It turns out he simply has chest pains. | In one home the man says he feels ill, and he is worried he might have the virus. It turns out he simply has chest pains. |
The doctor says a medical cordon has been set up around this village. "If people have the flu symptoms we send them to hospital," he says. | The doctor says a medical cordon has been set up around this village. "If people have the flu symptoms we send them to hospital," he says. |
So far two people discovered in tests this week have been sent from here. | So far two people discovered in tests this week have been sent from here. |
Media 'siege' | Media 'siege' |
At night in La Gloria you can see a million stars. The sky is dark and huge. | At night in La Gloria you can see a million stars. The sky is dark and huge. |
Matthew Price reports from Mexico | |
At daybreak the area rolls out in front of you. Mountains line the horizon. It is rural and remote. | At daybreak the area rolls out in front of you. Mountains line the horizon. It is rural and remote. |
La Gloria is a quiet place of about 3,000 people, tucked away in southern Mexico - and it is now a possible source of the flu virus spreading around the world. | La Gloria is a quiet place of about 3,000 people, tucked away in southern Mexico - and it is now a possible source of the flu virus spreading around the world. |
The first known victim - a young boy called Edgar Hernandez - lives here. He survived the virus. | The first known victim - a young boy called Edgar Hernandez - lives here. He survived the virus. |
La Gloria is besieged. TV crews run around the dusty streets, most not wearing protective masks. | La Gloria is besieged. TV crews run around the dusty streets, most not wearing protective masks. |
Government workers also run around, trying to show they are in control. The villagers look on - bemused at the village takeover. | Government workers also run around, trying to show they are in control. The villagers look on - bemused at the village takeover. |
Edgar Hernandez was ill more than three weeks ago, and there has been plenty of time for the virus to spread from here. | Edgar Hernandez was ill more than three weeks ago, and there has been plenty of time for the virus to spread from here. |
Some believe this could have been the original source of the virus. Mexican officials say there is no evidence to support that. | Some believe this could have been the original source of the virus. Mexican officials say there is no evidence to support that. |
UN mission | UN mission |
At one home, down a dirt track, an elderly woman stands outside, her skin wrinkled and dark with decades of sunshine. | At one home, down a dirt track, an elderly woman stands outside, her skin wrinkled and dark with decades of sunshine. |
CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases US: one death, at least 91 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesUK: 5 confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesGermany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases each Israel: 2 confirmed casesAustria: 1 case Mapping the outbreak In pictures: Concerns grow Mexico: First swine flu cases | CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases US: one death, at least 91 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesUK: 5 confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesGermany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases each Israel: 2 confirmed casesAustria: 1 case Mapping the outbreak In pictures: Concerns grow Mexico: First swine flu cases |
She told us her granddaughter had died after contracting flu. | She told us her granddaughter had died after contracting flu. |
"They didn't do anything for us," she said. "The nurse just told us to buy medicine, and said come back tomorrow." | "They didn't do anything for us," she said. "The nurse just told us to buy medicine, and said come back tomorrow." |
The girl died in the doctor's arms the next day, she says. So far that case has not been scientifically linked to the swine virus. | The girl died in the doctor's arms the next day, she says. So far that case has not been scientifically linked to the swine virus. |
The Mexican government says it is doing everything it can to help stop the spread of the virus. It has closed schools across the country. | The Mexican government says it is doing everything it can to help stop the spread of the virus. It has closed schools across the country. |
It is also sending medical teams to places like La Gloria, but the town is in the headlines and not everywhere is getting the same assistance. | It is also sending medical teams to places like La Gloria, but the town is in the headlines and not everywhere is getting the same assistance. |
It is hard to piece together exactly what the situation is here. | It is hard to piece together exactly what the situation is here. |
A UN team is due to arrive this week and - in conjunction with the Mexican government - will carry out tests to try and determine the source of this virus. | A UN team is due to arrive this week and - in conjunction with the Mexican government - will carry out tests to try and determine the source of this virus. |
They have their work cut out for them. | They have their work cut out for them. |