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U.S. Government Delivers Further 1 Million Dollars in Equipment to Support Mexico’s Efforts to Contain the Spread of H1N1 Influenza

Mexico City | May 3, 2009

U.S. Government Delivers Further 1 Million Dollars in Equipment 1

U.S. Government Delivers Further 1 Million Dollars in Equipment 2

The government of the United States has delivered a further one million dollars worth of equipment to the Mexican Government to support sustained efforts to contain the spread of H1N1 influenza. The 100,000 Personal Protective Equipment kits (PPEs), donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), arrived in Mexico City on May 2. The PPEs include items such as coveralls, respirator masks and goggles that allow first responders effectively to help others without risking their own personal safety.

Yesterday’s delivery of PPEs is in addition to a previous donation of 108,000 PPEs made this past January, also valued at one million dollars.

Since the influenza public health emergency began, the U.S. Government has provided 16 million dollars in assistance to Mexico, including a five million dollar donation by USAID to the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization to assist Mexico, and a donation of 400,000 courses of the anti-viral medication Tamiflu by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, valued at ten million dollars.

The U.S. Government – through various entities that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USAID – is collaborating closely with the Mexican health authorities and international organizations. Leslie Bassett, Chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, emphasized the close cooperation to date between the U.S. and Mexican governments, saying, “We have, and will continue to work closely with Mexican officials during this public health emergency to contain the spread of the virus and protect the health of all our citizens.” The May 2 telephone call between Presidents Obama and Calderon further underscored this shared determination.