COLOMBIA: Three more H1N1 cases confirmed in Colombia

Record ID: 1533844

  • Title: COLOMBIA: Three more H1N1 cases confirmed in Colombia
  • Date: 13th May 2009
  • Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SKYLINE PEOPLE, BUILDINGS PEOPLE WALKING ON STREETS
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2009 10:01
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Colombia
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA4TB07NKOC9EZYIY0XN7EY72HX
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Colombia confirms three new cases of H1N1 flu and fears the virus could have spread within the country.
    Colombia has confirmed three more cases of H1N1 flu, raising the country's total to six infected patients on Tuesday (May 12).
    The Ministry of Social Protection said 182 people also have suspected cases of the flu in the South American country, but all of them are in good condition and have not required hospitalization.
    All three of the new victims are young adults from the eastern province of Casanare that had traveled to Florida in the United States, the government's flu spokesperson Jose Fernando Cardona said.

    "The three new confirmed cases are people from Casanare between the ages of 17 and 26 that had traveled to Florida," Cardona said.
    Three people that live with the new patients have also come down with flu-like symptoms, and thus are being considered new suspected cases. So far the Colombian government has ruled out 334 suspected cases of the virus, also known as swine flu.

    "Of the four new probable cases, one of them is still probable because we have not got the test results yet from Atlanta, and the other three new suspect cases are people that live with the three new confirmed cases and that have present respiratory symptoms. Given that they have been in direct contact with the person they live with and are showing respiratory symptoms they are considered probable cases," Cardona said.
    Authorities said they would not suspend classes or large events to prevent the spread of the disease, but did urge people to take basic sanitary precautions like washing their hands more often and not welcoming people with a kiss.
    Colombia was the first country is South America to report a case of H1N1 flu.
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