Costa Rican Leader Has Swine Flu, Will Telecommute

By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 11, 2009 9:05 PM CDT
Costa Rican Leader Has Swine Flu, Will Telecommute
Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias in July file photo.   (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

Nobel Peace laureate and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias said today that he has swine flu, showing that not even a head of state is safe from the virus that has caused worldwide concern but relatively few deaths. The 69-year-old Arias said he is quarantined at home and being treated with anti-flu medicine.

"The pandemic makes no distinctions," Arias said. "I am one more case in this country and I am being submitted to the recommendations that health authorities have established for the entire population." Arias suffers from asthma and is at higher risk than most. "Aside from the discomfort of the fever and sore throat, I feel in good shape and in full capacity to carry out my work by telecommuting." (More Costa Rica stories.)

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