Source: El Comercio (Ecuador)
Date: August 22, 2009

The AH1N1 virus has arrived in the Galapagos Islands. The Director of Ecuador’s Health system, David Basante, indicated that yesterday afternoon a 17-year old adolescent, from Santa Cruz Island, is the first reported and known case in Galapagos.

The Director indicated that the adolescent was in “perfect health” and will receive 75mg of Tamiflu for 5 days.

The Ministry of Health has dispatched 500 treatments of Tamiflu to the Galapagos Islands. Of this, 2 have been administered to two suspected cases. The authorities do not know how the infection occurred.

Galapagos has two hospitals (in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal), with each one having a 15-bed capacity. As of yesterday, hospital staff of both hospitals have increased procedures and facilities to attend to patients that arrive with possible symptoms.

To date, on a national level there have been a total of 900 positive reported cases, with 24 associated deaths.

The Ecuadorian Ministry of Health has confirmed 9 fatalities due to the A H1N1 flu virus in Ecuador [July 21, 2009]

Ambato | 1 male | 30 years old | July 2
Cuenca | 1 female | 28 years old | July 7
Quito | 1 female | 42 years old | July 11
Riobamba | 1 male | 74 years old | July 12
Quito | 1 female | 48 years old | July 12
Loja | 1 male | 24 years old | July 14
Alausi | 1 female | 26 years old | July 15
Chunchi | 1 female | 59 years old | July 17
Canar | 1 male | 38 years old | July 17

Source: El Comercio / July 21, 2009

Ecuadorian child infected with flu recovers

QUITO, May 19 (Xinhua) — The Ecuadorian child infected with the A/H1N1 flu has completely recovered and will leave quarantine soon, a hospital director said on Tuesday.

The 12-year-old boy was the first registered case of A/H1N1 flu in Ecuador. He was infected during a trip to the United States, the Ecuadorian health ministry said.

“The child is totally recovered,” said Eduardo Sandoval, director at the Infectology Hospital of Guayaquil.

“At the third day after entering the hospital, he received anti-viral treatment. He does not represent any danger for his family, neighbors or community,” he said.

The ministry also checked the crew members of the plane where the child flew and the 161 passengers onboard, as well as airport staff. No one has shown the symptom of infection yet.