At least 39 people die of influenza A(H1N1) in Ecuador

The influenza A virus subtype H1N1 has claimed the lives of at least 39 people in Ecuador since April, announced Public Health Minister, Margarita Guevara, on Wednesday.

He told local newspapers that up till now 239 cases of affected patients have been detected with the virus nationally.

The virus' presence in Ecuador is due to the strong winter period that is sweeping the South American nation, however, there are also reports of the virus in other countries in the region such as Colombia.

According to the Health Ministry, three strains of the virus are currently present in the South American country -- influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B, as well as A(H1N1). The last strain is the cause behind the increase in patient death.

Guevara said that until now, over 3 million people have been vaccinated against this type of flu which is also the virus that is known as swine flu, affecting the respiratory tract.

The symptoms are characterized by fever, headache, bone and muscle aches, a cold, sore throat and an intense cough.

Staff from the Health Ministry are fumigating houses to prevent the virus from spreading, as well as inside the shelters that are housing thousands of victims from the earthquake that shook Ecuador's north coast on April 16, according to Guevara.

The minister asked the public to adopt health measures to prevent a possible flu contagion and to avoid self-medicating.

On May 15, 2009, Ecuador faced an influenza pandemic which lasted a year, becoming the third country in the Americas to report cases of A(H1N1) influenza.

Back then, 2,251 confirmed cases were registered and at least 129 people died. Endit