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Colombian Health Ministry Reports No Cases of Bird Flu in Humans

Posted on: Tuesday, 11 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

Text of report: "Cases of avian influenza have not been detected in humans: Social Protection Ministry", published by Colombian Office of the President website on 10 October

Bogota, 10 October: "Colombia can be at peace regarding the avian influenza virus. For the time being no cases have been detected among humans, and we are continuing with the surveillance efforts in which Colombia leads the region. Confirmation of the presence of this virus in asymptomatic animals in Tolima shows us that we are on the right path of prevention".

With these words, Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio Betancourt dispelled doubts regarding the possible transmission of the avian influenza discovered in Fresno (Tolima) to human beings.

The early detection of one type of flu virus was accomplished thanks to the active surveillance that the Colombian Agricultural- Livestock Institute (ICA) is systematically performing to alert the sanitation authorities to the virus' circulation in the country.

Palacio explained that there are many sub-types of the avian influenza virus, one of which - the one that has wreaked the greatest havoc on the world - is known as H5.

It is spreads by air and infects fowls. Nevertheless, since 1997 there have been no cases of humans infected with avian flu, he said.

The virus sub-type H9 that has appeared in Fresno, is also transmitted among poultry by air, but it poses no risk whatsoever to human health; its pathogenesis is low, and there are no reports of cases in humans in the affected region.

For the early detection of the virus that has wreaked havoc on the world, the Social Protection Ministry has designed a plan whereby the health sector will intensify the surveillance of humans when the ICA reports suspicions.

Although it is an almost innocuous virus for humans, the Social Protection Ministry has increased its surveillance for cases of the disease in humans, through a group of experts from the National Health Institute who are being deployed to the region. Meanwhile, all of the directorates of epidemiological surveillance in the country have been trained in the measures contained in the Pandemic Prevention Plan.

Thus, the Ministry will propose to the National Council on Social Security for Health, the approval of an allotment of 10 billion pesos from the Fosyga's [Solidarity and Guarantee Fund] promotion subaccount, to strengthen the plan's various lines of action.

The system whereby the respiratory virus, including the influenza virus, is observed throughout the country, was developed in 1997.

Colombia is the leader in the region in surveillance (only Chile, Argentina and Brazil have similar surveillance systems in place) and the information that is sent for verification at the CDC (Atlanta Centre for Disease Control), because of its quality, is used to create the influenza vaccine that is used in the United States.

Efforts are being made to develop and strengthen surveillance of the acute respiratory illness within the network of nationwide lenders, with updated protocols and the implementation of strategies such as the acute respiratory illness observatories that operate at 16 Bogota hospitals.

To improve our diagnostic capabilities, the public health laboratories in Bogota, Cundinamarca, Cesar, Risaralda, Huila and Santander have been strengthened in the serological detection of the virus through immunofluorescence.

The anti-pandemic plan makes provisions for specific preventive and protective steps against influenza. Thus, the 2005-2008 immunization plan has programmed the application of 5.4 million vaccines to protect close to 3.3 million children between the ages of 6 and 18 months, and approximately 500,000 adults over age 65, who have high risk factors.

The authorities have also considered a sustained and joint effort by all of the sectors involved in basic services (such as aqueducts and electric power) in order to respond immediately and in a coordinated manner in the event of a sanitary emergency.

"Although this plan does not guarantee that the avian flu will not enter the country, it will

reduce the impact of the disease on individuals who might be infected in the future, thereby decreasing the spread of the virus and easing the burden of hospitalizations, deaths and illnesses. It will also reduce the economic and social repercussions," the social protection minister explained.

Therefore, the purpose of the Plan is to prepare the country's sanitation system to improve its response in the event of a pandemic. With the experience that we have gained from handling previous epidemics - cholera, equine encephalitis, the re-emergence of measles on the Venezuelan border in 2002, and yellow fever - I believe that we can deal with this new threat to public health," said Palacio Betancourt.

Source: BBC Monitoring Americas

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