Colombia: Epidemic alert after new swine flu infection

[tetano]

Authorities have confirmed the first lethal case of H1N1, or ?swine flu,? in Colombia in 2010.

The victim was a 46 year-old female school teacher from the nearby municipality of Mariquita, 50 miles north-west of the country's capital Bogota.

Tolima?s departmental Secretary of Health, Juan Carlos Basto, said that measures were currently being taken to safeguard against the spread of the disease, including a quarantine and medical treatment of people the woman recently had contact with, including her students.

Basto also said that doctors in the Tolima area are exercising increased vigilance for new cases of the illness, and asked that people be on the lookout for the flu?s symptoms, which include fever, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, and breathing difficulties.

More than 200 Colombians died from H1N1 last year at the height of the flu?s epidemic around the world.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia...ared-in-tolima-after-new-h1n1-case-found.html

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Colombia: Epidemic alert after new swine flu infection

Source: http://colombiareports.com/colombia...orities-concerned-over-rise-in-flu-cases.html

Bogota authorities concerned over rise in swine flu
Monday, 07 June 2010 13:16 Kirsten Begg

Bogota health authorities are concerned about a rise in the incidence of the H1N1 virus both in the Colombian capital city and around the Andean nation.

Bogota Public Health Director Ricardo Rojas said that health authorities are on alert after the incidence of contagion has increased from two or three cases a week to ten in the last seven days.

According to Rojas three people have died in Bogota from the potentially deadly flu so far in 2010. Authorities will meet Tuesday to evaluate the situation.

Nationally contagion has increased in the last three weeks from one to three new cases per week, to an average of six.

The majority of the cases were registered in the Santander, Tolima and Nari?o departments.

"We're calling on health institutions to remember the importance of upgrading their facilities when necessary in order to adequately treat patients with serious respiratory infections," Rojas said.

Social Welfare Minister Diego Palacio recommended that that hospitals be alert and prepared to detect any potential cases.

In Bogota, since the first case was reported, 1,744 people have caught the virus and 74 have died, according to Rojas' figures. Around Colombia the National Health Institute has confirmed 3,900 cases and 243 deaths.

The World Health Organization announced last week its decision to maintain the alert for the virus at pandemic status, a little over a year since the flu's outbreak.

Colombia's national government ]warned Sunday[/URL of the potential of second outbreak.

 

[Tonka]

Re: Colombia: Epidemic alert after new swine flu infection

http://spanish.china.org.cn/international/txt/2010-06/09/content_20215294.htm

Alert in Bogota, Colombia, for increased cases of influenza A (H1N1)

Bookmark | Print | E-mail | 06.09.2010 10:07



The Ministry of Health of Bogota today issued a warning by the increase in cases of flu A (H1N1) in the state, since the number of reported cases per week increased from two to 14 in recent days.

The health director of the Colombian capital, Ricardo Rojas, said that over the years there have been three deaths from the disease, while the number of people infected has grown.

Since the first reported case in this city, have been accounted for 1744 infections and 74 deaths, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.

Across Colombia, cases of infection confirmed by the National Institute of Health is 3900, in addition to 243 registered deaths. The main foci of the disease are the departments of Santander, Tolima and Nari?o.

The district health authorities requested to remain vigilant and follow step by step the general recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), especially at sites of mass influxes of people, to prevent the spread of the pandemic virus.

The Bogota government insists the main recommendation to continue the protection measures such as washing hands often with soap and water, and in case of flu, wear masks. End

 

[Tonka]

Re: Colombia: Epidemic alert after new swine flu infection

http://www.rcnradio.com/noticias/nacional/08-06-10/gobierno-mantiene-la-alerta-por-la-gripe

Government maintains the alert for influenza A | 2 comment (s) | 0.
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By: RCN Radio
During the first five months of the year in the country eleven people died from the virus of influenza A (H1N1), while the total deaths since it was declared the pandemic worldwide, 14 months ago, leaving 242 cases Colombia.

The report was submitted by the director of the National Institute of Health, Juan Gonzalo Lopez Casas, to keep alert to act against this disease.

"There has been a spike of cases in Bogot?, but overall the pandemic is behaving according to the parameters. He started with a soaring, stabilized in what we call a plateau and began the descent. However, it is important to maintain educational campaigns, prevention and vaccination, "said Lopez.

He added that the peak of cases in Bogota in recent days is associated with the rainy season in the country, weather condition that facilitates the transmission of the disease.

Insalud director reported that the largest number of cases infected with the virus AN1N1 recorded this year are concentrated in Bogot?, Nari?o, Caldas Norte de Santander, Valle del Cauca and Tolima.