Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Colombia on Tuesday rejected a warning from the Pan American Health Organization (PHO) that the alert in the country should be raised to phase 6 as more suspected cases of A/H1N1 flu were found.

"The alerts are launched from the WHO central and for the moment we are on phase five. The level 6 has to do with the expansion of the virus. It will be announced if there is a change or not in the alert," WHO director of Public Health, Maria Neira told local radio Caracol Radio.

PHO representative Pierre Paolo Balladelli said on Monday that as suspected cases of H1N1 flu rose to 136 in Colombia, the alert level in the country would be risen to level 6 in a matter of days.

"I would dare to say that we are very near because the number of cases has grown and it is very probable that in hours or days we could reach to a sustained infection in its transmission," Balladelli said.

Neira said the H1N1 virus is very sensitive to weather conditions, noting that the low temperature could make transmission of the virus much easier.

"The message is to be careful and be ready, and things must be taken calmly and not with panic. The transmission is through people, and now we continue investigating the origin of the one confirmed case and later we will know which was the origin and the measure to be taken in the future," Neira said.

Colombian prosecutor's office has issued a communique, urging enterprises, public and private entities to take preventive measure.

Colombian government reported on Monday 136 possible cases of H1N1 flu, while only one man of 42 years old has so far been confirmed of being infected. The man is on good health conditions and under medical supervision.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2009)