A new epidemic of deadly respiratory infection: this virus has pushed the authorities to decree a confinement in Colombia

It was within the Bogota military school in Colombia that the cases were identified. On Saturday February 3, a young cadet died after contracting a virus.

Several other young people showed the same symptoms. Two days later, the Ministry of Health confirmed this epidemic and presented measures to prevent the spread of this virus which was not immediately identified.

People exposed to this unusual serious acute respiratory infection

Some 290 people were exposed to this virus resulting in an unusual serious acute respiratory infection. More than a hundred showed symptoms and three were hospitalized, including in intensive care, as reported Infobae.

An open health investigation and an autopsy ordered

Faced with this epidemic and the death of the young soldier, the matter was quickly taken seriously. A health investigation was opened. Analyzes and samples were carried out. An autopsy on the body of the young soldier was ordered to confirm the infection.

Confinement

To stop any spread outside its enclosure, the military school isolated those exposed. Control measures have also been implemented, including a quarantine until February 14 for exposed cases, while new cases are identified.

The H3N2 virus identified

According to analyses, the virus which caused this epidemic is that of influenza A type H3N2.

This virus is a variant of influenza type A that causes seasonal epidemics and has symptoms similar to the common flu. However, its complications can lead to death by causing severe respiratory illnesses.

Responsible in 1968 for the deaths of more than 4 million people

The health measures were put in place because this virus can lead to a pandemic quite quickly due to its rapid transmission between people. This variant of the virus originally comes from pigs. In 1968, it was detected in Hong Kong and caused the deaths of more than four million people in this Asian region.