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Some El Pasoans Not Concerned About Swine Flu

Posted: 8:17 pm MDT April 28, 2009Updated: 10:12 pm MDT April 28, 2009

It's perfume and piece of mind at Perfume Club South in Downtown El Paso. The store is just a half a block from Mexico and a lot of it’s clients come from Mexico. But when it comes to fears of the swine flu, workers say there's always soap and water.

“No concerns,” said Ernesto Armendariz, manager of Perfume Club South. "My associates and myself we're washing our hands when we see clients. So whatever we do we are watching ourselves."

But in Juarez, there are 10 suspected cases of swine flu and testing is still underway. It's something that's keeping local congressmen very busy.

"Because of the incubation period it's hard to pinpoint, but we do have the protocal in place for the people at the border,” said Congressman Harry Teague, D-N.M. Teague said his office gets briefed daily on the swine flu issue.

There are no confirmed cases of swine flu in El Paso or New Mexico but some people crossing the border were wearing masks Tuesday. However, Custom and Border Protection officers were not.

"It should concern everyone, including CBP,” said Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso. “So we've asked them to give a full account of what procedures or process their going to have in place." Reyes said he has also been attending meetings with other government agencies to keep of abreast of the swine flu.

Tuesday, The Centers for Disease Control confirmed 64 cases of swine flu in the U.S. With 10 in California, two in Kansas, 45 in New York, one in Ohio, and six in Texas.

Some El Paso residents said they feel comfortable with the efforts that the government is taking.

"I guess if it gets any worse, I'm pretty sure they're going to step things up,” said Armendariz. “But right now I think for them checking the people crossing over, they are doing a good job."

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