Actualizado el 17/7/2009 - 20:47h Updated 17/7/2009 - 20:47 h

. The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs this afternoon confirmed the existence of 20 positive cases of influenza A/N1H1 between the Spanish soldiers deployed in the Advanced Support Base in Herat, in western Afghanistan.

During a ceremony this morning in Santander, Chief of Staff of Defense (Milreps) Air general José Julio Rodríguez Fernández, said that some cases were detected positive for influenza A in Herat, although he stressed that all troops are " under control "and that are activated and applied to all protocols against the H1N1 virus.

At present, the Advanced Support Base in Herat remain isolated 54 Spanish soldiers deployed in this country within the framework of the International Force Security Assistance in Afghanistan (ISAF). Most of the detainees belong to the military contingent based in the Command of the Canary Islands.

Spain maintains a contingent in Afghanistan more than a thousand military personnel in the International Force Security Assistance (ISAF) under NATO command and under the resolutions of the Security Council of UN. The bulk of the troops concentrated in the Advanced Support Base in Herat and in the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Badghis, based in the capital of this western province, Qala-i-Now.

The deployment is completed by both teams and Operating Instructions Link (OMLT) based at Camp Stone in Herat, and responsible for the formation of battalions of the Afghan National Army (ANA). The detachment of the Spanish Armed Forces consists of 778 soldiers, reinforced over the next three months by a battalion to provide security during the celebration of the Afghan parliamentary elections next August 20. The Spanish contingent will increase in autumn with the deployment of a detachment of control and security in the Kabul International Airport and two new OMLT españa.