by Veronica Macías
U.S. health and civil rights experts have been quick to counter allegations by antiimmigration zealots that undocumented Mexican immigrants are spreading swine flu throughout this country.
At Weekly Report’s press time, the 226 U.S. cases reported in 30 states ranging from New York to California, did not include a single one attributed to an undocumented immigrant.
While anti-immigrant voices have seized the chance to scapegoat Mexican migrants for the potential swine flu pandemic, it’s a move that has come as no surprise to Hispanic leaders here.
“Conservative media is distorting the reality of the situation. They are always looking for someone to blame,” National Hispanic Health Alliance president Dr. Jane Delgado told Weekly Report “They are doing a disservice to their listeners and to the world by not presenting accurate information.”
Despite confirmations from U.S. authorities that the confirmed swine flu cases here have been nearly exclusively from residents who recently traveled to Mexico, right-wing pundits including Glen Beck, Lou Dobbs and Michael Savage are continue to politicize the issue to advance their ongoing nativist stances.
“Make no mistake about it, illegal aliens are carriers of the new strain of human/swine/avian flu from Mexico,” said Savage Nation radio host Michael Savage.
Referring to the outbreak at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York, National Hispanic Medical Association president Dr. Elena Rios censured the critics, “They should pay attention to the facts. These were American citizens who had money to go travel to Cancun for spring break. “
The virus is identified as the H1N1(swine flu) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine confirmed that its two reported cases were of residents who separately came down with the disease following trips to Mexico.
In Maryland, a U.S. Energy Department security official contracted AH1N1 when traveling to Mexico with Secretary Steven Chu last month. He infected his family when he returned.
The World Health Organization, the U. N.’s health authority, believes the virus first manifested in Mexico City, where a stronger strain killed an estimated 146 people.
Within a few days the virus spread to 13 countries.
The first swine flu-related death was of a 23-month-old Mexican boy whose family traveled from Mexico City to visit Houston.
The Libertarian Party and Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) have been among groups responded to the growing number of U.S. cases by demanding much more vigilant border enforcement.
ALI PAC president William Gheen emphasized to Weekly Report, “We are calling for all non-essential traffic and illegal immigration to stop.”
Blaming the Congress for not moving more decisively and allowing commerce “to take precedence over public health,” he urged that thousands of U.S. National Guard troops be brought in to, in effect, close off the border.
Since news of a likely pandemic broke April 23, Mexico’s huge tourism industry has collapsed. Voice of America reported it has plummeted by 77°/0.
A five-day shutdown of Mexico City businesses ordered by President Felipe Calderon effective May 1 was said to be costing the city $57 million a day.
The WHO made no recommendation on imposing global travel restrictions since the virus has already spread and it would be “highly disruptive” to the world economy.
On its website, the CDC suggest that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.
While some media pundits called the virus the “fajita flu,” other well known faces like MSNBC host Keith Olbermann called the comments ignorant and racist.
Boston radio talk host Jay Severin was taken off the air for characterizing Mexican immigrants as “criminaliens.”
Health officials say 35,000 U.S.residents die every year of the seasonal flu and an increase from the swine flu is inevitable. Hispanic Link.
