First A/H1N1 case confirmed in Colombia

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-04-2009 14:27

Colombia has reported South America's first confirmed case of A/H1N1 flu. The news comes after Costa Rica reported the first case in Central America.

The victim, a 42-year-old Columbian man from a town near Bogota is reported to be in good condition in hospital. The man had recently returned from Mexico.

Colombia's Social Protection Minister Diego  Palacio gestures during a news conference  in Bogota May 3, 2009. Colombia has  diagnosed its first confirmed H1N1 flu  virus case, a man who recently returned  from Mexico but is in good condition,  Palacio said on Sunday.REUTERS/Carlos Duran

The town's mayor declared an alert and ordered hospitals and clinics to be ready to treat anyone admitted with symptoms of A/H1N1. He's also urging people to remain calm.

Jorge Enrique Gonzalez, mayor, said, " It's been eight to nine days after his arrival and he is just following the medical procedure, and we hope he recovers soon. The alarm here will not be generalized, his family has been checked by doctors and we will overcome this situation with the patient who was positive with A/H1N1."

Colombians have stocked up on surgical masks and anti-bacterial gels, emptying many pharmacies of their supplies.