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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Confirmed A(H1N1) cases in RP now at 1,709

AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.TV
07/01/2009 | 10:15 PM

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Influenza A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines has jumped past the 1,000-mark from 861 last June 26, proving the rapid spread of what the Department of Health (DOH) called a "mild virus."

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the country's total infected cases now stand at 1,709 and is expected to increase in the coming days.

Duque said the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) has the most number of cases with 1,225 or 72-percent of the total figure. Most cases were from Quezon City, Manila, Parañaque, Pasig, and Makati.

The country's first A(H1N1) related death was also from Metro Manila. The death of the 49-year-old woman, who had existing medical conditions, was announced by the DOH on June 22.

Metro Manila was followed by Region 4-A (Calabarzon) and Region 3 (Central Luzon) in the most number of infections, while Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao still have no reported cases.

Despite the country's A(H1N1)-related death, Duque reiterated that there is no need to panic because the virus is mild in nature. In fact, 86 percent or 1,485 of the patients have already recovered and been discharged.

He said that the remaining 14 percent or 224 are still under treatment, but most of them under home management.

Following the recent developments, Duque III said the government is bolstering mitigation efforts to reduce the impact of the virus in the country.

"As we anticipate more cases in the coming months, we must institute effective measures to save lives and prevent deaths and to reduce the impact of the pandemic to our national and the economy," Duque said.

He said he convened with members of the A(H1N1) Task Force, chief of all DOH-retained hospitals, and some representatives from the private sector last June 30 to ensure that they have the capacity to administer care to swine flu patients, especially those who are considered "high-risk patients," where severe manifestations of the virus are seen.

High-risk group include those with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, immuno-suppression, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, as well as pregnant women, and the very young and the elderly.

Duque also met with member agencies of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), particularly the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to ensure that local governments have systems in place and that hospitals and primary health care facilities under their jurisdiction are able to "identify, treat and manage A(H1N1) cases."

He also met with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to assist the DOH in its nationwide campaign against the virus.

"This is to make sure that our information and education activities reach all schools, barangays and provinces in the country," Duque said. - GMANews.TV

From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.

(Update) Despite feeling well, Arroyo quarantines self

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06/30/2009 | 11:07 PM

President Arroyo will spend her self-quarantine at a private hospital in Muntinlupa City after returning from a 13-day trip to countries affected by swine flu — despite the fact that she's feeling fine, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Monday.

Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo will have herself confined at the Asian Hospital as part of the quarantine procedure to serve as an example of a responsible traveler helping to stop the spread of the disease.

He added: "She will also take advantage (of the time) to be able to take some rest."

The press secretary said she may check in at the hospital either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Arroyo was well and it was her decision to go into self-quarantine.

During the initial stages of the swine flu outbreak, Health officials had suggested that travelers to affected countries self-quarantine between five and 10 days. Remonde said that Arroyo will not stay in the hospital for the full 10 days, but he did not provide a specific time period.

The Health department has reported 861 swine flu cases in the country, all with mild symptoms. One woman with a chronic heart ailment who died was later found to have had the virus.

For his part, Remonde said he will undergo an executive checkup at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City. Remonde had accompanied Mrs. Arroyo in her foreign trip.

Mrs. Arroyo decided to go on self-quarantine as a precaution against A(H1N1), after returning Monday night from a foreign trip to Japan, Brazil and Hong Kong.

Remonde said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita will represent Mrs.
Arroyo in functions, but Mrs. Arroyo will continue to do her paperwork while in the hospital.

Earlier, dzBB's Aileen Intia reported Mrs. Arroyo's engagements this week have been put on hold during her quarantine.

These included scheduled visits to Pampanga, Leyte and Cagayan de Oro, as well as Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. - GMANews.TV

From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Masses may be suspended if flu spread worsens – CBCP

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06/28/2009 | 12:58 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Church is considering suspending Masses should the spread of the A(H1N1) flu virus become worse in the Philippines – as a "last resort."

But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, along with some priests and parishioners, thinks the proposal unnecessary, according to Mariz Umali in her GMA Weekend Report aired on Sunday, shortly after midnight.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made the announcement through Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yñiguez.

However, suspending Masses would be a "drastic measure," Yñiguez stressed in an interview with GMA's Lala Roque.

"We will have to evaluate that [the situation]... lalo na yang misa, yan ang pinakamahalagang gawaiin natin bilang mga Katoliko [especially since the Mass is our most impontant activity as Catholics]," Yñiguez said.

In response, Duque said: "Walang gumagawa ng ganoon sa ibang bansa, kahit na yung mataas ang kanilang kaso. Kasi mild lang ito. Wala tayong problema dito kasi mild cases lang 'to. Hindi kailangan pahintuin ang pagmimisa ng mga tao."

[No other country has done that, not even those with a high incidence of flu. This is a mild flu. We don't have a problem here because our cases are mild. There's no need to stop people from going to Mass.]

Fr. Ed Guarin of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Quezon City echoed the same sentiment, saying that most of the people in his church did not mind holding hands while singing "Our Father" because they were acquainted with each other.

Earlier this month, the Church modified mass services, disallowing hand-to-mouth communion and holding hands while singing the Our Father. But these traditional practices have returned in some churches.

Earlier on Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to organize quick reaction teams and mobile testing facilities for deployment to areas affected by the A(H1N1) virus. But health officials contacted by GMANews were caught by surprise by the directive and implied that it was impractical and unnecessary.

An official, who is involved in controlling the spread of the virus and requested anonymity, said that there's no need to deploy mobile clinics in Metro Manila because there are already many hospitals in the city.

"The principle behind the directive is just to make sure that treatment is available wherever and whenever it is needed. So maybe we can still to find ways to implement the directive in a more practical way," she said. The official suggested that they just have to ensure that their response teams are really working at the local levels.

"Kaya naman kasi gamutin ang mild cases ng A(H1N1) virus ng mga rural clinics and hospitals [Rural clinics and hospitals can cure the mild cases of the A(H1N1) virus]," Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said in an interview with GMANews.TV.

As of Friday, the DOH said that there have been 861 confirmed cases as of A(H1N1) in the country. Villaverde, however, said that this "overwhelming" number of A(H1N1) cases are easily treated and do not need to be managed in a hospital setting.

Arroyo also ordered the DOH to prepare "well-equipped isolation wards" in state-run facilities. But Villaverde said most hospitals already have such rooms.

"I think all hospitals have assigned rooms, and there's no special equipment needed for A(H1N1) but oxygen tanks," said the undersecretary.

The other official was, however, quick to mention that the DOH has yet to settle all the matters regarding the implementation of the directive.

"I don't know if a dialogue transpired between Malacañang and Secretary Duque but I guess the Palace gave the directive because they think these are the best options," she said.

For the quick response teams, the President ordered the DOH tap from the pool of "still-to-be-employed" nurses, and organize information and education teams about A(H1N1). Excerpts the directive were read by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is with Arroyo in Hong Kong, on government-run dzRB radio Saturday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was not immediately available for comment but he will be holding a command conference with the regional directors of the DOH to discuss the additional proposed measures against the A(H1N1) virus on Tuesday.

The DOH was also ordered to place the A(H1N1) alert level in the country at the alert level of the World Health Organization "for increased alertness and preparedness."

Arroyo issued the directives as three more schools were added to the list of educational institutions confirmed to have cases of the A(H1N1) virus in the country, upping the previous tally to 43 Philippine schools with at least 154 swine flu cases. - GMANews.TV

From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.

Arroyo orders quick reaction teams, mobile testing for A(H1N1)

The young Gloria Macapagal (far right) and her...

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06/27/2009 | 11:34 PM

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to organize quick reaction teams and mobile testing facilities for deployment to areas affected by the A(H1N1) virus.

She said also sent the order to the Department of Agriculture (DA), excerpts of which were read by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is with Arroyo in Hong Kong, on government-run dzRB radio Saturday.

For the quick response teams, the President ordered the DOH tap from the pool of "still-to-be-employed" nurses, and organize information and education teams about A(H1N1).

She also asked the department to prepare "well-equipped isolation wards in state-run hospitals and health facilities."

The DOH was also ordered to place the A(H1N1) alert level in the country at the alert level of the World Health Organization "for increased alertness and preparedness."

Schools with A(H1N1) cases

Arroyo issued the directives as three more schools were added to the list of educational institutions confirmed to have cases of the A(H1N1) virus in the country, upping the previous tally to 43 Philippine schools with at least 154 swine flu cases.

In a report aired over Q's Balitanghali, the Batangas Municipal Health Office confirmed that 24 students from the Banilad Elementary School in Nasugbu, Batangas were confirmed to be infected with the virus.

All the 24 students have reportedly been self-quarantined and are getting well. The school has also been closed for 10 days.

A high school student, on the other hand, from the Chiang Kai Shek College in Manila has also recently tested positive for A(H1N1).

The Southville International School in Las Piñas also confirmed Saturday that they have a high school student who was confirmed with the A(H1N1) virus last Thursday, June 25.

"On Friday (June 19), she (student with the virus) said she was not feeling well. By Saturday (June 20), she started to get sick and did not come to class ever since," Southville High School principal Anthony Calado told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.

When she finally tested positive for the virus, Calado said they suspended classes.

The college students, however, are already set to return on Monday. This, said the high school principal, is because they were in a separate building from the infected student.

The high school students, on the other hand, will return to class on Wednesday - 12 days after the confirmed case last attended classes.

This development brings the number of schools in Metro Manila with confirmed A(H1N1) cases to 34, specifically in Las Piñas, Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluying, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, and Taguig.

Schools in the provinces also with swine flu cases, on the other hand, upped to nine. This includes Batangas, Rizal, Bulacan, Cebu, Laguna, Leyte, and Nueva Ecija.

The number of A(H1N1) cases in the country has swelled to 861, the DOH said Friday.

But Duque said the fully recovered patients still stands at 634, 74 percent of the total number of confirmed cases reported since May 21.

"The number of fully recovered patients is the same as the previous update because the present reported cases are still getting treatment and recuperating either in hospitals or their homes," he explained.

As of June 24, the World Health Organization reported 55,867 swine flu cases with 238 deaths from 102 reporting countries.

Warning vs food supplements guising as A(H1N1) cure

And as some food supplements continue to project themselves as cures for A(H1N1), the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) advised the public not to fall for such claims.

The BFAD also warned makers and distributors of such products they can face criminal charges for violating the Consumer Act.

"It must be stressed that to date, there are no food supplements, drugs, medicines or vaccines that have been registered or applied for registration with the BFAD that specifically prevents, cures, treats or mitigates against the new Influenza A(H1N1) virus," it said in a public health advisory signed by acting director Nazarita Tacandong.

Such ads can create an "erroneous impression" that the products concerned can prevent, cure, treat or mitigate dreaded virus, it added.

The BFAD advisory also warned manufacturers and distributors of these food and pharmaceutical products that their claims can violate the Consumer Act, a BFAD circular providing guidelines on nutrition and health claims in food, and misbranding in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

It then advised the public to report such advertisements to it at 809-43-90 local 1051.

Meanwhile, Tacandong said the BFAD has sent cease-and-desist orders to firms behind ads promoting food supplements as cures for A(H1N1).

In a radio interview, Tacandong said the BFAD expects to get a more complete list of offenders during a meeting of its inspectors.

"Ang advisory ilalabas sa website at diyaryo [We will issue advisories in our website and in the newspapers]," she said in an interview on dzXL radio.

Help for hog raisers

On the other hand, Arroyo ordered DA under Secretary Arthur Yap to help the "tens of thousands" of silent but hurting hog raisers whose plight has been largely ignored.

She cited reports that backyard and small-scale hog raisers had been suffering as farm gate prices dropped because of "baseless fears about unsafe pork."

Arroyo said the DA should assure consumers there was no swine flu in local hog farms.

"Local pork is safe to eat, there is no single case of swine flu report from the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service," she said.

"On top of properly informing the public, the DA should carry out all preparations necessary to prevent swine flu from infecting local hog farms," she added. - Kimberly Jane Tan, GMANews.TV

From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

3 more schools call off classes due to A(H1N1)

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06/24/2009 06:43 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Three more schools in Metro Manila on Wednesday announced the suspension of their classes starting Thursday after some of their students were found positive for Influenza A(H1N1) virus infection.

In an advisory, the Ateneo Grade School in Quezon City said it will suspend its classes on June 25 and 26 after a Grade 3 pupil was confirmed to have contracted the virus.

The Parent-Teacher Conference (PTC) scheduled on June 27, Saturday, would also be canceled.

The AGS deferred its opening of classes earlier as a precautionary measure after a student from the high school department was confirmed to be infected with the disease.

Also in Quezon City, the St. Pedro Poveda College said in its Web site that it is “canceling its classes starting June 25 and will resume on July 6 due to a confirmed case of A(H1N1)."

GMANews.TV’s sources also said that PAREF-Woodrose in Muntinlupa City has also suspended classes until July 3 due to A(H1N1) infection. The school has yet to issue an official report.

GMANews.TV tried to confirm the report about PAREF-Woodrose from the Department of Health and from the Department of Education, but they said they have no information so far.

Woodrose’s affiliated school, PAREF-Southridge earlier canceled its classes.

“This is to inform the PAREF Southridge School community that Southridge is suspending classes for 10 calendar days beginning Monday, June 22, because of a confirmed case of Influenza A(H1N1) flu in one student. Classes will resume on Thursday, July 2," it said in an article posted on its Web site.

On Wednesday, classes at the Assumption College (San Lorenzo campus) in Makati City were suspended. The school administration said classes will resume on July 6.

The cancelation of classes by these private schools came as the DOH announced that 131 more people have tested positive for the AS(H1N1) virus, raising the total of confirmed cases in the country to 603. - Sophie Dedace, GMANews.TV

From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Death of staff with A(H1N1) prompts House closure

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06/23/2009 | 12:08 PM

(Updated 1:20 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The first A(H1N1)-related fatality in the country and in Asia turned out to be an employee of the House of Representatives, which prompted the leadership Tuesday to shut down the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles ordered the suspension of work at the House until Sunday, June 28, for the sanitation of its buildings to be spearheaded by officials from its medical services in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH).

"I have already instructed the concerned House officials to coordinate and maintain close coordination with the DOH in order to mitigate possible effects on other employees and their families," Nograles said in a statement posted on the House website.

In a separate interview on dzBB radio, House Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Roque said they would undertake continuous safety and preventive measures in time for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's State of the Nation Address on July 27.

For now, Roque said employees would be given flu-vaccine shots and would be sent home. There are "over 3,000" employees in the House of Representatives, he said.

Roque said there were two confirmed A(H1N1) cases in the House, including the 49-year-old fatality.

But he said the second employee underwent self-quarantine at home and has since recovered.

Roque said the fatality came from Kalinga-Apayao and spent time with her officemates from June 10 to 12.

On June 15 to 16, Roque said she may have taken part in a training program at the Andaya Hall in the House complex.

After that, Roque said the fatality even reported for work on June 17, and started feeling ill only the next day.

Until Monday night, there was no confirmation whether the first death related to A(H1N1) was an employee of the House, he said.

Heart disease

In an interview with GMANews.TV on Tuesday, House health committee chair Arthur Pingoy said the 49-year-old woman who died Monday mainly due to heart disease was an employee at the third floor of the Ramon V. Mitra building in the Batasan complex. The floor houses the committee affairs department.

The death of the 49-year-old woman was the first in the country and in Asia, a health official said Monday.

Her death, officially from heart failure, has prompted health officials to give the most attention to sickly people who were hit by the flu.

In a press conference in Malacañang on Monday, Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director for the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of Health, said the woman died of "congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction" on June 19.

According to the patient's family, the woman developed flu-like symptoms on June 17 but still went to work that day, radio dzBB reported Monday.

She was reported to have become "restless" two days later, which prompted her family to call for medical help, but she died at home before the doctor came, according to the same report.

In a separate news conference at the DOH, Secretary Francisco Duque III said the woman had a "pre-existing heart disease" that worsened her infection. She also had a liver disease, Oliveros said.

Local, global tally

As of Monday, the total number of confirmed cases in the Philippines stood at 445. Duque, however, emphasized that 84 percent of those sickened by the virus –roughly 374 people – have fully recovered.

In the World Health Organization’s latest update, the flu virus had infected 52,160 people across the globe.

The WHO also recorded 231 deaths – 113 in Mexico, 87 in the US, 13 in Canada, seven in Argentina, four in Chile, and two in Colombia, one each in the United Kingdom, Australia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Guatemala.

In Monday’s press conference, Duque stressed that globally and locally, "the overwhelming majority of cases only experience mild symptoms and, eventually, make a rapid and full recovery even without any form of medical intervention." – with Sophia Dedace and Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.