Colombia detects first flu case

Detection of the Virus in Colombia
The person in question is a 42-year-old man living in Zipaquira, a town on the outskirts of Bogota. The man had recently returned from Mexico, where the flu outbreak originated and where the flu is the severest.

The case was detected in one of the samples of 18 people showing suspicious flu-like symptoms. The National Health Institute had sent the samples a week ago to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

Colombian Health Minister Diego Palacio disclosed at a press meeting in Bogota that “last night (Saturday) the government was notified that one of these samples came back positive for the AH1N1 virus.”

Current situation
The other 17 cases sent for testing were diagnosed as cases of “normal flu” of seasonal nature, which is currently an epidemic in Colombia.

The man infected with influenza is suffering normal flu symptoms and is being treated at home. The health authorities have advised him to refrain from communicating with other people.

On fear of being stigmatized, the identity of the citizen is being kept a secret. However, the person was believed to be “in good condition clinically”.

Providing more information, the Health Minister stated that 108 people in Colombia were suspected of being infected with swine flu, out of which four were being monitored in hospital but their condition was reported as stable.

The official confessed that the figure was about three times more than last Friday and also admitted that another 216 people were being closely observed.

Palacio asked people not to panic. He stated that 90 percent of the cases did not require hospitalization and could be safely treated at home. "I want to remind Colombians it is not prudent to jam health institutions."

The government was taking the necessary measures to confront the pandemic, including declaring a nationwide emergency.

Update on the A/H1N1 worldwide
Colombia is the 18th country to confirm the existence of the virus. The World Health Organization said 898 cases were reported all over the world. Mexico at the epicenter of the outbreak had 506 infected cases with the death toll hitting 19. Costa Rica had one case.

The United States has reported 160 confirmed cases across 21 states, including one death. Canada reported 30 fresh cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of infected people in the country to over 85.