Ecuadorian President?s Security Chief Seriously Ill with Flu

[Commonground]

QUITO ? The head of the Ecuadorian presidential security detail is in serious condition with swine flu, the Quito Military Hospital said.

John Merino was infected with the AH1N1 flu virus and developed pneumonia, which worsened over the weekend, hospital spokesmen told Ecuavisa.

Merino, an air force officer responsible for President Rafael Correa?s security, was hospitalized two weeks ago and confined to the intensive care unit.

The presidential security chief is on a respirator and under constant monitoring, the hospital said.

More than 860 swine flu cases have been detected in Ecuador, where 27 people have died from the disease.

Of the confirmed cases, more than 90 percent of patients have recovered, the Health Ministry said in a report released last Friday. EFE

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[Treyfish]

Re: Ecuadorian President?s Security Chief Seriously Ill with Flu

The Ecuadorian President said that his security chief John Murphy is on the verge of death

QUITO .- Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, yesterday lamented health status of his security chief, John Murphy, who, he said, "is lies between life and death "affected by influenza virus A.

"My chief of security, a special officer, Air Force Col. John Murphy, is between life and death meet beyond duty, even reckless", said Correa during his usual sabatino report.

The security chief, said the president, did not advise that he had symptoms of flu and continued its work on 10 August when held in Quito, the summit of South American Nations Union (UNASUR), the Bicentennial celebrations of Independence Correa's inauguration and in his second term in a row.

Since that date, after aggravating the symptoms, Murphy was granted asylum in intensive care unit of the Military Hospital in Quito and, doctors say his condition is serious.

The officer "said he was not flu, and was (by) the virus. If this virus (H1N1) is discussed in the first three days (the contagion) nothing happens, like (it did Coordinating Minister of Politics) Ricardo Patino, but if allowed to progress can be deadly, "said Correa.

In addition, the president said the planned trip to Cuba, on 16 August, has been postponed a week because her daughter Sofia also developed fever and flu ruling that it was feared human influenza, but later ruled that out.

Influenza A has affected only about 900 people in Ecuador, which has killed 36 people, according to a report by the Ministry of Health that was released last Wednesday.

The meeting of presidents of UNASUR was a "success" because it will allow the U.S. bases used in Colombia is inspected by the countries of the region, said Correa.

"It has taken an important step in meeting Bariloche (Argentina). In the final resolution of UNASUR Defense Council may review, monitor, these bases "in Colombia, he said.
:tiphat:http://www.exonline.com.mx/XStatic/excelsior/template/content.aspx?se=nota&id=706888