The number of possible cases of influenza A/H1N1 in Colombia rose from 108 to 136, Colombian government said on Monday.

"The virus is in Colombia and many Colombians have the virus. It is an epidemic we have to manage and accept so we can deal with it," Colombian Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio said.

The Colombian government reported on Sunday that a 42-year-old patient had tested positive for influenza A/H1N1, the first confirmed human infection case in the country.

Palacio predicted that the confirmed case "is the first of a series of cases" to be detected in the country.

After this announcement, Ecuador suspended flights between the two countries, and tightened up sanitary controls in border zones to avoid the possible spread of the virus.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has urged Colombians to follow the sanitary measures and pay attention to any flu symptoms, and not to send children to school if they are sick.

Colombia is analyzing the possibility of producing a medicine for the human A/H1N1 flu in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2009)