OFW – Overseas Filipino News

The Department of Health (DOH) said that the first case of swine flu in the Philippines has been “contained.”

Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd announced on Thursday evening that the first case involving a 10-year-old girl—a Filipino who arrived in the country on Monday after traveling to the United States and Canada—tested positive for the A(H1N1) virus that causes swine flu.

But the Health department allayed fears of an outbreak.

“The DOH would like to emphasize that there is no community level outbreak in the country and measures are being done by the government to prevent transmission, starting with the quarantine of household close contacts,” the department said in a statement on Friday.

“The discovery of this first case of Influenza A(H1N1) in the Philippines is something we have been preparing for and is a result of the collective efforts of both the public and private sectors as well as the effective surveillance system which we have put in place,” it added.

The department reassured the public that the government is “on top of the situation and everyone is advised to be vigilant.”

Authorities also reported that the girl’s health condition is improving.

“At this time, the patient is continuously being monitored. She no longer has fever or cough, but still has sore throat,” they said.

Mavic Vasquez, Bureau of Quarantine medical officer, said that there are geographical factors affecting the extent of the virus’ effect.

“Maybe in the Philippines, it is just mild unlike in Mexico where cases continue to increase,” said Vasquez, who noted that the fatality rate is below two percent, a number way lower than they have expected.

But since the A (H1N1) virus is novel and an evolving one, experts said that they are keeping close watch on its changes.

In previous influenza outbreaks, Health officials said, the first wave was usually mild while the second wave was more virulent and came in cold times like winter.

The girl’s condition will be monitored but if it continues to improve after five more days, Duque said she may be discharged from the hospital.

The patient showed the symptoms of the disease a day after her arrival in the country. Swab samples from her throat were taken and were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila) for testing.

The RITM confirmed that the specimen tested positive for the novel Influenza A(H1N1) virus using the test kits sent by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patient was then given medication and supportive care.

17 contacts to be tested

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said that 17 people would be subjected to medical tests to determine if they acquired the virus after having close contact with the young girl. These “contacts” include the members of the patient’s family.

Villaverde said that the girl’s mother had already taken tests and tested negative for the A(H1N1) virus.

“We hope that nobody else got infected, especially since the mother, who had the closest contact to the patient, tested negative,” he added.

It was reported that the girl’s parents have not shown symptoms of the disease but were also given Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)—the anti-viral drug believed to be the most effective available medication against A(H1N1) as of now.

The Health department will also be sending a team to the house of the patient for a more thorough assessment of the condition of the people there. The department also advised them to confine themselves to their home as a precautionary measure.

Vasquez said that the Bureau of Quarantine already did contact tracing and advised 17 passengers who were six feet away from the girl for six hours to observe for possible symptoms of the novel virus and to quarantine themselves.

Members of the flight crew of the undisclosed foreign airline were also advised to observe self-quarantine, which means that they should avoid social contacts, observe proper hygiene and respiratory etiquette procedures and conduct self-monitoring of flu symptoms.

Stock of medicines enough

The Health department said that it has enough medicines that will be distributed free to government hospitals once needed.

“Our stockpiles of Oseltamivir are currently sufficient at one million capsules and have been distributed in regional hubs all over the country,” it added.

Villaverde said that some 500,000 pieces more of the anti-viral drug were donated by a pharmaceutical company and will be delivered in two weeks.

Oseltamivir, the Health officials said, is also available from drug stores. The Health department, however, warned against self-medication.

“We would like to remind the public that Oseltamivir may only be dispensed and taken upon the advice of a doctor. Irrational use can result in drug resistance that causes the drug to become ineffective in the future,” it said.

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, such as masks, is also sufficient and will be provided by the Health department to health workers who are the most vulnerable to transmitted infection.

Dr. Yolanda Oliveros of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control reported that prices of the PPE in stores have gone up as “a reaction to the report of the recent infection.”

“We have already met with Department of Trade and Industry officials to monitor the prices of these commodities,” she said.

Stepped-up drive

With the first confirmed case of Influenza A(H1N1) in the country, the Health department vowed that it will “continue to strengthen our systems for surveillance, early detection and management and effective response.”

“We are also closely coordinating with the World Health Organization [WHO], other agencies of government and the private sector to effectively combat the virus,” it said.

Authorities are also mulling over the postponement of the opening of classes this June.

Villaverde said the Health officials will be meeting with representatives from the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education, as well as school administrators next week to discuss possible recommendations.

For now, the DOH recommends that certain measures still be observed—covering nose and mouth with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing; washing hands regularly with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing; avoiding close contact with sick people; and consulting a doctor immediately should signs and symptoms of flu persist.

Oliveros said that vitamins and nutritious food are still the most effective way to boost one’s immune system and protect him from the flu.

Travel advisory

The Health department said that it was discouraging Filipinos from traveling out of the country to prevent the possible spread of infection.

Villaverde, however, cleared that this advisory was not a ban but only a precautionary measure.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said that it would not issue any travel ban.

“The tourism industry remains unhampered and has issued no travel restrictions,” the department said in a statement it issued also on Friday.

“The DOT maintains that there is no reported cancellation on any of its tourism bookings. Its marketing departments and regional units remain on heightened alert for any case of flu-like symptoms from arriving tourists,” the statement added.

It urged tourism stakeholders and partners (transportation services, hotels, resorts and restaurants) to be vigilant and impose stricter measures on proper hygiene and etiquette to prevent the virus from spreading.

In reporting the first case of swine flu in the Philippines, the Health officials said that the “development only shows the vulnerability of all countries to the threat of Influenza A(H1N1) that indicates that no nation and no government should be complacent.”

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