EARLY this morning, when I wrote the "Reflection" published today on the national TV news program and in CubaDebate, I had not yet read a report published in Mexico by Mark Stevenson and David Koop, transmitted by AP, the principal U.S. cable news agency.

Of course, there was no intention whatsoever of stating that I was right when it repeated more than once that I had accused Mexico of concealing the epidemic until after Obama’s visit to Mexico.

Imperturbably, I continued reading the dispatch I had available thanks to bulletins that compile national news items not included in the 326 pages published yesterday by agencies based in Cuba.

It is an AP article of special interest at this point, what does it say textually?

"Obama's April 16 visit came a week before Mexican health officials announced swine flu was spreading, prompting an eventual mass shutdown that brought many parts of the country to a virtual halt.

"A study published Monday in the journal Science estimated Mexico alone may have had 23,000 cases of swine flu by April 23, the day it announced the epidemic. The study estimates swine flu kills between 0.4 percent and 1.4 percent of its victims, but lead author Neil Ferguson of Imperial College, London, said the data remain incomplete.

"‘It's very difficult to quantify the human health impact at this stage,’ he said.

"The analysis in Science suggests there are many more cases than those confirmed by laboratories - anywhere from 6,000 to 32,000 cases in Mexico as of April 23. The flu has since spread around the world, and the study said it appears to be substantially more contagious than normal, seasonal flu.

"Researchers also compared the DNA of the viruses in 23 confirmed cases, and came up with an estimate of Jan. 12 for their earliest common ancestor - presumably when person-to-person transmission began. But with everything that isn't known, they said it could have been anywhere from Nov. 3 to March 2.

"The researchers said the 2009 H1N1 flu appears to be about equal in severity to the flu of 1957 and less severe than the deadly 1918 version.

"In Mexico, the reopening of kindergartens and primary and middle schools shut since April 24 was the latest step in efforts to restore a sense of normality. Businesses, government services, high schools and universities reopened last week.

"But six of Mexico's 31 states put off reopening schools for a week because of local rises in the number of flu cases, and a seventh pushed it back a day to Tuesday. The Education Department said it will tack an extra seven days onto the school calendar to make up for time lost to the shutdown.

"But while officials publicly praised the health and education systems for their response to the crisis, there were some signs that Mexico's overburdened health system was under strain.

"Dozens of government health care workers, including doctors and nurses, marched and blocked streets in the Gulf coast city of Jalapa to demand higher pay and better working conditions.

"The government asked our help in combating the influenza epidemic, now we are asking the government to do us justice," said nurse Mariana Cortes, one of the protest organizers."

The efforts that I made to demonstrate that symptoms were already appearing in late March, five weeks before the official announcement of the epidemic! Science magazine expresses its opinion that the virus possibly appeared in Mexico between January and March of 2009.

I’ am not the person who wrote that report, nor the Science article. Given that what is being said is the equivalent of 10 times the number of sick people that I had stated, and is the assessment of one of the most prestigious scientific magazines in the world, I wonder if the president and leaders of his party have already visited the United States ambassador in Mexico and threatened to break off diplomatic relations with that country.

Not long ago I observed with concern that the honorable president of Mexico was displeased when I criticized his illustrious predecessor in a "Reflection". How stupid I was to mention that vestal virgin of the Mexican oligarchy! He felt the need to protest in a public commentary.

Certain people are wondering in what quality I am speaking. I have stated that very clearly: with that of "Comrade Fidel." I feel proud of being a member of the Communist Party of Cuba. When I wrote the article that so embittered President Calderón, I titled it: "What went through my mind." It is what happened as I read his statement against Cuba. I did not violate ethical norms. I said in all sincerity and without any insults what I was thinking. I have been trained by 10 presidents of the United States. One of them I respect very much: Carter. One of the others sometimes gave the best of himself and others the worst of themselves. Several of them, only the worst, because they had nothing else to offer. I am observing number 11 carefully. I am thankful to all of them for everything I learned about battling with the powerful.

I have nothing else to offer today.