136 people in Colombia are suspected to have the AH1N1 virus that has
generated fears for a pandemic worldwide. The patients are being
monitored by health authorities, the country’s Social Welfare minister
said Monday.
According to the Minister, 220 others are being monitored for showing some of the virus’ symptoms.
In an interview with RCN Radio, the Minister said he expected more of the suspected cases to be confirmed carriers of the new virus. So far, only one Colombian patient was confirmed to have AH1N1.
After the confirmation that the virus had entered Colombia, authorities ordered all teachers with flu symptoms to stay home and ordered schools to report children with flu symptoms to health authorities after sending them home.
Worldwide, more than a thousand people are confirmed to have AH1N1. Some 15 people have died from the virus so far.
A U.S. health official said Sunday that there are “encouraging signs” that the new AH1N1 virus is no more dangerous than routine seasonal flu viruses that
circulate annually.