Abstract

ALONSO REYNOSO, Carlos. Influenza A (H1N1) and measures adopted by health authorities. Desacatos [online]. 2010, n.32, pp. 35-52. ISSN 1405-9274.

This article offers a summarized vision of the main influenza epidemics. It tracks the appearance and origin of the 2009 influenza, which was finally denominated as A (H1N1). It presents the main guidelines and steps followed by the World Health Organization facing this new virus. It also explores how this type of influenza was detected in Mexico, and tracks the changes in the strategy followed by Mexican health authorities to face this sudden disease, unknown at first. It inquires if the increase in cases obeys to an anticipated new outbreak or to the continuance of this epidemic. It poses the possible risks that must be faced in a second outbreak, which is predicted to intensify over the Winter season. Finally, it synthesizes the main debates, which have risen around this new type of influenza.

Keywords : seasonal influenza; swine influenza; virus; epidemic; health authorities.