There are already 38 cases of H1N1 flu in Cali, do you know how to avoid it?

Thirty-eight times the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of people with H1N1 in Cali between 1 January and 15 July this year, a number that is on alert to health authorities because of the growth of the disease in clinical records in recent weeks.

According to the report of the Ministry of Health, this scenario exceeds the record of cases occurring during the same period last year, where 27 people were reported to be infected with the virus.

The epidemiologist of the Department of Municipal Health, Jorge Humberto Mena, pointed out that the increase in cases is related to the climate changes that took place this year, which involved the following year. extension of the rainy season until the first days of June and the transition to the high temperatures of the last days.

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"Another circumstance that most likely affected that in Ecuador, there was a flu epidemic H1N1 from the end of 2017 to mid-March this year, the proximity and migration of patients with the disease could increase the transmissibility of the virus in the city, "said Mena. The main symptoms of the disease are cough and fever, but if precautions are not taken, the disease can lead to pneumonia or respiratory failure.

Precisely the secretary of Departmental Health, María Cristina Lesmes, pointed out that in the department "an epidemic is already established, we had two deaths and we still have twenty-six in the # 39; study "

. that suspected cases are monitored and controlled those that have been confirmed by the laboratory, with the aim of avoiding even greater spread of the disease.

In this sense, Lesmes stressed that "we must be attentive to the symptomatology.H1N1 has a special drug, it is Tamiflu, which is delivered by the national government and it is recommended to be careful not to allow the deterioration of a person who has this disease. "

Currently in the city the cases that have been registered have affected, in greater numbers, children from 4 to 10 years old and older adults.

"The H1N1 virus mainly affects people with many diseases, which is common in the elderly. In fact, the two deaths that occurred in the city badociated with the illness came from a brother couple, one had a disease and his defenses were weak and the other was a patient suffering from. "In the case of children, the contagion is generated by the lack of development of their immune system."

The official said that reports should "normalize and that cases begin to fall in the next few weeks Since 2009, the H1N1 virus has become a seasonal virus, so in the absence of rain or when there is light rainfall, they tend to fall. "

However , the experts said that certain recommendations should be taken into account to minimize the risk of contagion of the disease, for example to drink a lot of liquids, not to rub the eyes or to touch the face with unwashed hands; avoid greeting or kissing; In case of colds, you should use a mask and stay at home; cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow when you sneeze, you should never use your hand.

Cases increase in the country

The Ministry of Health reported that in the first half of this year 366 people were reported with this disease in 18 departments. During this period, at the national level, 44 people died of the virus, accounting for 27 fewer cases than at the same time in 2017, when 17 deaths were reported because of the H1N1 virus.

Vaccines are essential

Although there is Tamiflu in the fight against the H1N1 virus, to prevent the disease, it requires a continuous hand washing and vaccination against influenza should be used as basic protection measures.

The Ministry of Health applies the vaccine free of charge to priority groups, such as children aged 6 to 23 months, pregnant women from the 14th week of gestation, persons aged 60, parents or cohabitants minor patients with cancer, patients with morbid obesity and diabetes mellitus, and the entire population with immunocompromised or immunocompromised chronic kidney disease.

According to the Municipal Secretariat of Health, since May, they have started to apply organic products in the IPS of the city.