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Envoy says virus didn't originate in Mexico

By Li Xiaokun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-28 07:44

The deadly A/H1N1 swine flu virus did not originate in Mexico but in Eurasia, Mexico's ambassador to China Jorge Guajardo said on Monday.

People wear surgical face masks as they attend a mass at Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral April 26, 2009.  [Agencies] more swine flu photos

Citing the results of a study in his country, he said: "Somebody from Eurasia first got infected and took it to Mexico," causing the outbreak.

"Mexican laboratories will try their best to identify the source of the virus (within 72 hours) to find a proper treatment", he told a press conference.

Though puzzled by the swine flu outbreak, the Mexican government is "fully confident" of bringing the disease under control because the antiviral drug, Tamiflu, has proved quite effective.

Full coverage:  Swine Flu Outbreak Related readings:  Beijing on alert for swine flu  Germany reports 3 suspected cases of swine flu  UN chief: Swine flu becomes public health emergency of int'l concern  Hong Kong woman being tested for swine flu

About 1,000 of the 1,614 people suspected to be infected by the virus in Mexico have recovered, Guajardo said.

The ambassador appreciated the gesture of many Chinese organizations that had called up the embassy offering help to the Mexican government to fight the epidemic since China had the experience of dealing with SARS in 2003.

But he said there was no need to panic. Even the World Health Organization said on Saturday that there was no need to ban tourists from traveling to Mexico, he said.

And, he promised, the Mexican government will share with other countries all the information it has on the spread and treatment of the disease.