Statue of world's first Swine Flu victim in Mexico

London, Jul 25: A bronze statue of a five-year-old boy, identified as the first person in the world known to have contracted swine flu, has been erected in the remote mountain village of La Gloria in Mexico.

Edgar Hernandez's likeness has been named Nino Cero-Little Boy Zero.

It has been created by sculptor Bernardo Luis Artasanchez, who is upbeat about his work.

"It portrays a child who was cured and who represents the union of all Mexicans," the Mirror quoted Artasanchez as saying.

"Never have so many people come to this community for a fair or a concert. And if more people come to La Gloria because of the statue, I will be the proudest man on earth," the sculptor added.

As regards the frog that Boy Zero clutches in his right hand, Bernardo says: "It characterises the virus as one of the seven plagues of Egypt. Edgar, with his innocence and nobility, has dominated that which at first was bad but in the end was benign."

However, not everyone is so happy about the village basking in the title of the birthplace of swine flu. Some residents believe that the statue has no place there at all.

"They are calling us 'Muertos de Hambre,'" a local teenager told Mexican reporters-Mexican slang for dirty and worthless.

Even Edgar, who is now fully fit again, is not overkeen on his new celebrity status. He just wants to get on with being a five-year old.

"I was in bed and I couldn't play in the street with my friends...but now I'm fine," he said.

ANI