The Military Academy of Cadets General José María Córdova in Bogotá is grappling with a potentially dangerous outbreak of the AH3N2 influenza virus, resulting in the quarantine of cadets, officers and staff. The outbreak was confirmed after 18-year-old Cadet Cristopher Blanco Vásquez died from the influenza type A virus.
The surge in infections has raised alarms among district health officials, given that 268 members of this prestigious academy have been exposed to the virus. From the 268 exposed confirmed cases, 103 are symptomatic.
A strict quarantine is in effect at the country’s largest military institution starting February 5 to 14. The District Health Secretariat is actively monitoring and implementing measures to contain the outbreak beyond the confines of the academy. In an official statement from Colombia’s Armed Forces, the institution expressed condolences for the death of Cadet Blanco Vásquez and emphasized their commitment to health of all military personnel.
The current outbreak draws historical parallels with the H3N2 subtype, infamous for its role in the 1968 flu pandemic, known as the “Hong Kong Flu.” The virus’s efficient human-to-human transmission during that pandemic claimed between one and four million lives globally.
Health experts in Bogotá are stressing the importance for proactive strategies, including annual influenza vaccination and adherence to preventive measures such as mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and maintaining physical distance.
