CHINA: China denies discrimination behind its confinement of scores of Mexican nationals over fears of H1N1 flu
Record ID:
1533269
CHINA: China denies discrimination behind its confinement of scores of Mexican nationals over fears of H1N1 flu
- Title: CHINA: China denies discrimination behind its confinement of scores of Mexican nationals over fears of H1N1 flu
- Date: 5th May 2009
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MAY 4, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MEXICAN EMBASSY IN BEIJING MEXICAN NATIONAL FLAG SIGN READING MEXICAN EMBASSY IN BEIJING SPANISH SECURITY GUARD STANDING OUTSIDE EMBASSY EXTERIOR OF GUO MEN HOTEL SECURITY GUARDS STANDING OUTSIDE GUO MEN HOTEL AND TALKING TO EACH OTHER WINDOWS OF HOTEL ROOMS MEXICAN EMBASSY STAFF DENYING INTERVIEW WITH JOURNALISTS BAGS OF FOOD IN EMBASSY VEHICLE VARIOUS OF HOTEL STAFF LOADING FOOD TO CARTS VARIOUS OF HOTEL STAFF LOADING LUGGAGE HOTEL STAFF PUSHING CART INTO HOTEL VARIOUS OF HOTEL WORKERS LOADING BAGGAGE TO CARTS HOTEL WORKERS PUSHING CARTS INTO HOTEL VARIOUS OF AMBULANCE ENTERING GATE OF HOTEL TRAFFIC IN BEIJING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET
- Embargoed: 20th May 2009 09:34
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: International Relations,Health
- Reuters ID: LVADMRP5YGIXBKQCO6ESKSN5W7IX
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: About 70 Mexican nationals have been placed under quarantine in hotels and other sites across China over fears of the H1N1 flu, an act condemned by the Mexican Foreign Minister as discrimination against his country's citizens.
China denied the charge, urging Mexico to respond calmly and cooperate in fighting the virus.
Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa on the weekend accused China of discriminating against his country's citizens after Beijing ordered dozens of them into isolation in hotels and other sites across the country, although only one, a man now in Hong Kong, has been found to have the H1N1 flu.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu rejected the criticism on Monday (May 4), saying in a statement issued on the ministry website (www.mfa.gov.cn) the isolation steps were correct procedure, not bigotry.
Mexicans were being held in hotels and other sites across several parts of China, including Hong Kong.
Over 10 Mexicans were confined at Beijing's Guo Men Hotel, which has been sealed off to outsiders.
A van from the Mexican embassy delivered bags of food and luggage to the Mexicans confined to the hotel on Monday.
Mexico's ambassador to Beijing, Jorge Guajardo, went to the hotel on Sunday (May 3), but was not allowed to see them, according to an embassy official, who didn't want to be identified.
Mexico announced on Sunday that its swine flu epidemic had passed the worst and experts said the virus might be no more severe than normal flu.
The row over confinement has strained what had been a warming relationship between China and Mexico, but with Beijing courting Latin America as a trade and diplomatic partner, the damage appears unlikely to last.
The Mexican with the H1N1 virus arrived in Hong Kong from Mexico last Thursday (April 30) following a stopover in Shanghai.
Many of the confined Mexicans were on that same flight to Shanghai, but others had reached China on flights from Los Angeles, Newark and Vancouver, said the embassy official.
China's vast population and patchy medical infrastructure make it particularly vulnerable should the virus take hold.
Unlike people in Mexico or other places that have had reported outbreaks, citizens in Beijing haven't been seen wearing masks, but many say they are ready to take precautions if necessary.
"At present, nobody around me is taking precautionary measures, thus I wouldn't consider it either. However, if the situation gets worse, we will be taking necessary measures," said 36-year-old Beijing citizen Wei Yongjian.
Some residents say they are more confident about taking care of themselves after the experience learnt from the SARS epidemic six years ago.
"It seems like the current situation is not as critical as the SARS epidemic. But the society, to a certain level, is fragile and in this aspect, people need to take care of themselves to prevent the virus from spreading," said another Beijing resident Qi Li.
China has vowed to disclose any human cases of H1N1 flu promptly to avoid cover-ups that brought panic during the SARS epidemic.
Ditan hospital is one of the two hospitals in Beijing that have been designated to take in any suspected cases of flu.
A special inspection section has been set up at the hospital to diagnose people showing flu-like symptoms.
Chinese Health Minister says China has begun expanding stocks of Tamiflu and similar drugs and has sufficient capacity to manufacture these medicines itself. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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