Bogota health authorities are concerned about a rise in the incidence of the H1N1 virus both in the Colombian capital city and around the Andean nation.
Bogota Public Health Director Ricardo Rojas said that health authorities are on alert after the incidence of contagion has increased from two or three cases a week to ten in the last seven days.
According to Rojas three people have died in Bogota from the potentially deadly flu so far in 2010. Authorities will meet Tuesday to evaluate the situation.
Nationally contagion has increased in the last three weeks from one to three new cases per week, to an average of six.
The majority of the cases were registered in the Santander, Tolima and Nariño departments.
“We’re calling on health institutions to remember the importance of upgrading their facilities when necessary in order to adequately treat patients with serious respiratory infections,” Rojas said.
Social Welfare Minister Diego Palacio recommended that that hospitals be alert and prepared to detect any potential cases.
In Bogota, since the first case was reported, 1,744 people have caught the virus and 74 have died, according to Rojas’ figures. Around Colombia the National Health Institute has confirmed 3,900 cases and 243 deaths.
The World Health Organization announced last week its decision to maintain the alert for the virus at pandemic status, a little over a year since the flu’s outbreak.
Colombia’s national government warned Sunday of the potential of second outbreak.
