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COLOMBIA confirms 1st death from SWINE FLU

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_38863...

BOGOTA - A 24-YEAR-OLD woman has become the first person in Colombia to die of swine flu, the A(H1N1) virus which first emerged in Mexico in April and has killed more than 140 people worldwide.
'We have our first case of a patient who has died, according to doctors, linked to the presence of the virus,' Health Minister Diego Palacio told a press conference Tuesday, adding that 35 cases of swine flu had been registered in the country.

Two members of the woman's family - her husband and an eight-year-old son - have also come down with swine flu, while another son age four was being tested for the virus.

The death, which occured last Thursday in a hospital south of the capital Bogota, is the third in South America, following two fatalities in Chile, the continent's hardest-hit nation. Seven countries have now recorded deaths from the virus.

Flu experts are watching the situation in South America carefully as it is in the southern hemisphere which is entering the flu-prone winter season.

Chile on Tuesday recorded a surge in the number of swine flu cases to 1,694, a 90-per cent increase from the 890 confirmed infections reported on Saturday.

In neighbouring Brazil, nine new cases were confirmed, bring to 40 the number of people sickened by the virus, the health ministry said.

But it stressed in a statement that 'transmission in Brazil is limited and there is no evidence of sustained, person-to-person transmission of A(H1N1) flu virus.'

In Ecuador, which also shares a border with Colombia, the number of swine flu cases rose by nine since Saturday to a total of 67. The new infections were in people who arrived in the country from the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

And in Paraguay the number of confirmed cases rose by 20 to a total of 25, following official announcement earlier this week of the country's first swine flu infections. -- AFP

By mariacvetanoski on Jun 11, 2009, 05:55 in Travel tips.

mariacvetanoski says on Jun 11, 2009, 05:56:

Flu experts are watching the situation in South America carefully as it is in the southern hemisphere which is entering the flu-prone winter season.

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

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suizo says on Jun 11, 2009, 07:50:

Does anyone know if travel restrictions may apply at El Dorado for international flights?

I just read that WHO now officially speaks of a pandemic. Alert level is now 6 (highest)

Crackheads suck!

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nine inch nails says on Jun 11, 2009, 12:12:

the piggy, the piggy, the piggie. we can all die of strange things but me I want to die like the exulted Grasshopper Carradine whilst in the act!!!!!!! ahahahahah

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adrimm (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 11, 2009, 22:09:

I wonder how WHO classifies deaths by vehicle accidents. 140 people worldwide does not seem very significant to me.

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mariacvetanoski says on Jun 12, 2009, 19:49:

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n184082

Colombia tightens measures in response to A/H1N1 pandemic

12 June 2009 | 06:26 | FOCUS News Agency

Bogota. The Colombian government on Thursday announced that it has tightened control at hospitals and health centers after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared influenza A/H1N1 had developed into a pandemic, Xinhua News Agency informed.
Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio requested the health organizations to treat all severe flu cases or respiratory infection as possible cases of A/H1N1 flu.
Palacio said possible patients will be immediately tested to determine if they are positive of the deadly flu, which currently has infected 34 people in the country, including one death.
Meanwhile, Colombian education authorities decided to advance the break in a school, where studies the dead patient's son.

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

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La_Huella says on Jun 13, 2009, 09:48:

I've been told a little town in Canada where my great grandparents used to live has 120 confirmed cases, that in a town of not even 2000 people!

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immigrateddotorg says on Oct 17, 2009, 07:27:

Yes this is disturbing, swine flu is quite dangerous worldwide now. I found a good site that updates you on
the swine flu epidemic in colombia and other countries http://swineflucases.net/

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lpdiver says on Oct 17, 2009, 20:21:

Swine flu is just flu...period. I am currently in the midst of the infection myself. A visit to the urgent care and a nasal swab confirmed it. Big deal. In two or three days it will be history.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 17, 2009, 22:01:

Ho, I forget to mention it... I got the swine flu in Colombia... ;-) It lasted 1 week, I had to go the hospital, and they gave me Tamiflu... I must admit I don't recall much (since I had 41°C for the first three days). It certainly was nasty and debilitating. At least I hope I'm immuned now.. And my family too.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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