By Javier Cardenal Taján, from BuenosAiresHerald.com staff

Originally from the city of Rosario, National deputy for Santa Fe province Juan Héctor Begnis, who chairs the Social action and Public health Committee in the Lower House of Congress, said in an interview with BuenosAiresHerald.com that the suspension of classes is an 'isolated measure' while many others should be taken nation wide. The member of the pro-government Victory Front caucus in Congress estimates that the number of cases of H1N1 A can be close to 20,000.

Begnis, an oncologist and public health specialist who decided in 1984 to dedicate his time to politics, showed himself against the initiative to openly allow the sale of oseltamivir anti-viral drug without prescription, because "a free sale of the drug could lead to self medication, which can be poisonous in larger doses."

BAH: How would you describe a health emergency state?

J.B: It is very common to misunderstand the concept. A health emergency state is generally associated with health issues, but in this case it has to do with the interruption of potential legal actions that may be taken against both health institutions and professionals. For example, I'm sure there are tons of lawyers that would press charges for malpractice, or would claim the violation of their defendants' individual rights when doctors deny the hospitalization of cases that are not severe, or even for those who are already hospitalized and are asked to leave when their beds are needed by other patients with H1N1 A influenza. It's hard, but we must understand that the only way to fight this epidemic is by taking the rides and implementing a very strict action plan.

BAH: Are there any other reasons for which the health emergency was declared?

J.B: I'm sure there are, the emergency state is also established to speed-up on administrative proceedings and in certain manner it's meant to ‘cheat' the bureaucratic administration system in order to get all the necessary equipment to fight the virus outbreak - medicines, health masks, breathing machines, etc- as quick as possible. If it had not been for the declaration of the health emergency state, the use of international funds as well the call for a public tender will be required to get the supplies. With the emergency declared we will reach and use existent funds to make the necessary acquisitions.

BAH: It's been said that the anti viral drug -oseltamivir- will hit the market today and anyone could buy it?

J.B: Yes, and I'm totally against it. Also infectologists and sanitary experts are openly opposed to the free sale and circulation of the drug. It should only be distributed by the health system (hospitals, clinics, etc). A free sale of the drug could lead into an abuse of self medication, which could turn the doses poisonous. Thus, if people start to take the drug for any reason or any flu-related symptom, let's say a common cold, the drug's anti viral effect could be lost, and worst of all, the virus could start to mutate.

BAH: How many treatment doses has the government bought?

J.B: We just bought 2,000,000 treatments to be added to an existent stock of 500,000 and we are planning to buy more as the idea is to distribute the drug to outpatients as well and not only to those hospitalized.

BAH: Has the H1N1 A influenza virus arrived to stay in the long run?

J.B: This pandemic will not end by 2009. We are facing an unknown virus and we don't know how it's going to react or behave in a near future. We are going through winter season in Argentina, but in the Northern hemisphere, I know the US, Canada, and Mexico are starting to see Argentina as a case to study in order to be prepared to combat the virus when winter arrives.

BAH: When will the virus reach its apex in Argentina?

J.B: Generally and based on common winter influenza, the apex comes around the last two weeks of July and the first one of August, but again we yet don't know how the virus will behave.

BAH: Do you think that the suspension of classes was the right answer to the virus outbreak?

J.B: Well, the extension of winter holidays in Buenos Aires province and City is just an isolated measure adopted by the government. It is necessary to extend measures to the rest of the country, even to those small towns where just a few cases were detected; we must stop the contagious wave. I'm deeply concerned about public transportation system since it is used by millions of people on daily basis. If I were the health minister I'd buy millions of health masks as well alcohol-hand gel to be distributed free on subways, buses and trains. I want to make clear that our intention and main idea is not to ban the citizenry from certain activities, but to recommend certain measures.

BAH: Which measures?

J.B: Such as trying to avoid massively attended places (shows, concerts, movies, etc) as well as restaurants, bars and any place which may represent a focal point for the virus. People must be aware that the old recipe of washing hands, always with the use of soap or alcohol hand gel, several times a day, reduces on an 80 percent the chances of contagion.

BAH: Do you agree with the number of detected cases released by the government?

J.B: Those numbers only reflect the volume of patients that have been hospitalized, but we know that the number of hospitalized infected only represent 10 percent of the total cases, hence we can estimate that there are roughly 20,000 cases in the streets.