President also warns population about Zika virus THE NEWS President Enrique Peña Nieto instructed Health Secretary Mercedes Juan López to extend and strengthen information on the Zika virus so as not to generate panic among the population. During the opening of the “Doctor y General Rafael Moreno Valle” Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital in Puebla, Peña Nieto instructed that, “We need to keep the population adequately informed on the actions and possible effects of the Zika virus through the use of mass media and in a timely manner.” Accompanied by Puebla Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle, Peña Nieto said that this disease is associated with cases of microcephaly, information that scientists must still confirm, so he called on the population not to panic. The mosquito that transmits the Zika virus is found mainly in coastal and tropical areas and countries in the southern area of the continent have shown a greater number of cases, said the president. In that sense, he instructed Juan López to sound the preventive alert in highrisk areas such as coastal areas, and to provide information on the effects of the virus. The current federal administration has kept watch and is attentive to the needs of 446 municipalities affected by low temperatures in recent days and its institutions are ready to provide care for the affected populations and to deliver mattresses and blankets, said Peña Nieto. The Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital saw an investment of 755.5 million pesos ($40.8 million) and will provide timely medical care and services which will change the lives of the population, he added. More than 2,800 health and medical care units have been built in the last three years and 580 hospital units have been rebuilt and modernized, said Peña Nieto. Several health indices have improved in recent years, including the reduction in the mortality rate of pregnant women and newborns, he added. All institutions of the National Health System are prepared for dealing with cases of Zika virus, which to date number 34 confirmed cases in the country, said Juan López. “We are prepared to carry out the necessary actions to strengthen areas where the mosquito, which is the same carrier of dengue and chikungunya, is present,” she added.
