HEALTH AUTHORITIES SUSPEND RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL DUE TO (SWINE FLU) A/H1N1

On 1 July 2009 health authorities in Iquique province announced the suspension of the La Tirana festival -- Chile's largest religious annual festival, which is usually celebrated on 16 July -- due to fears of an A/H1N1 outbreak. Iquique has reported more than 3,000 swine flu cases. The Tarapaca region, in which Iquique is located, reports the third-highest number of cases in the country, after the Los Lagos and Los Rios regions. Health authorities are also considering suspending the fiesta de San Lorenzo de Tarapaca, a popular regional holiday, and will announce their decision on 11 July