The decision to cancel classes in the schools Gimnasio FAbio Caldas and Nueva Republica de Chile was made after relatives of the 24-year-old woman, who was the first AH1N1 patient to die, attended the two institutions, El Espectador reported.
Colombian health authorities Wednesday decided to change the protocol to identify
suspected cases of AH1N1 to prevent more deaths. More cases will now be subjected to thorough research.
Before, only people who had been to Mexico and the United States who showed flu-like symptoms were to be considered suspicious cases, but after the death of the 24-year old woman from Bogota who met none of the criteria died of the virus, authorities are forced to change the protocol.
Everyone presenting flu-like symptoms exceeding a 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 Celsius), severe headache, vomiting or diarrhea, will be considered as a suspicious case and subjected to tests to determine what is causing the symptoms, Bogota's health secretary Hector Zambrano told Caracol Radio.
