REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA
THE influenza A(H1N1) protection barrier in Zamboanga Peninsula is breached after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed its first A(H1N1) case.
This information was from DOH Reg. Dir. Aristides Tan, who said that a Grade 3 student from Ateneo de Zamboanga was positively tested for the virus.
The boy was reportedly infected after coming into contact with a woman who came to Zamboanga from Manila last June.
It was not known whether the woman was the boy’s relative or not as the DOH has promptly subjected the said woman for quarantine and medication after she went back to Manila.
The DOH likewise reported several suspected infections in other government elementary schools in the city but laboratory tests are still on going.
Tan also said that they already were recording several suspected cases since May 14 after several patients showed symptoms of A(H1N1).
Following DOH protocols, the identities of the patients were classified confidential.
So far, the number given by the DOH is 12 as Tan explained that half of the number showed negative results while the other half still has to be received from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) which made laboratory analysis of the patients’ swab samples.
Health officials there said two of the suspected cases came from Isabela City in Basilan, two in Zamboanga del Norte and one from Zamboanga del Sur.
Dr. Norvie Taruc, chief of DOH’s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), confirmed to Pagadian reporters the lone case of A H1N1 patient from this province during a press conference held during the launching of the National Disaster Conciousness Month at the Liga City.
However, Taruc assured mediamen that the individual was still being sorted out as a “case under observation” pending the release of laboratory results.
The doctor declined to tell the place where the Zambosur patient lives as she urged the public to “bear with us” since specimen results “would take a lot of time to arrive.”
Taruc added that DOH has already shifted its control strategy from containment to mitigation, which means that A(H1N1) cases will now be treated as an ordinary flu.
A DOH update No. 35 has stated that “Those manifesting with mild symptoms can be managed and monitored at home so that only patients at risk who develop complications will have to be hospitalized.”
A(H1N1) virus is spread from person-to-person and is transmitted as the normal seasonal flu and can be passed to other people through coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled or contaminate hands or surfaces.
Signs of A(H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose.
Health Sec. Francisco Duque III disclosed that as of June, there are 1,709 confirmed A(H1N1) cases reported. He said 1,485 of these cases have already recovered, while the rest are still under treatment.
As this developed, the DOH has already designated the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) as the Regional Satellite Referral Hospital to handle treatments and or confinement of any victim of A (H1N1) in the region.
ZCMC has also stacked 5,000 Tamiflu capsules and organized its personnel protection equipment like mask, goggles, and gowns including the assignment of trained nurses for A(H1N1) patients.
THE influenza A(H1N1) protection barrier in Zamboanga Peninsula is breached after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed its first A(H1N1) case.
This information was from DOH Reg. Dir. Aristides Tan, who said that a Grade 3 student from Ateneo de Zamboanga was positively tested for the virus.
The boy was reportedly infected after coming into contact with a woman who came to Zamboanga from Manila last June.
It was not known whether the woman was the boy’s relative or not as the DOH has promptly subjected the said woman for quarantine and medication after she went back to Manila.
The DOH likewise reported several suspected infections in other government elementary schools in the city but laboratory tests are still on going.
Tan also said that they already were recording several suspected cases since May 14 after several patients showed symptoms of A(H1N1).
Following DOH protocols, the identities of the patients were classified confidential.
So far, the number given by the DOH is 12 as Tan explained that half of the number showed negative results while the other half still has to be received from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) which made laboratory analysis of the patients’ swab samples.
Health officials there said two of the suspected cases came from Isabela City in Basilan, two in Zamboanga del Norte and one from Zamboanga del Sur.
Dr. Norvie Taruc, chief of DOH’s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), confirmed to Pagadian reporters the lone case of A H1N1 patient from this province during a press conference held during the launching of the National Disaster Conciousness Month at the Liga City.
However, Taruc assured mediamen that the individual was still being sorted out as a “case under observation” pending the release of laboratory results.
The doctor declined to tell the place where the Zambosur patient lives as she urged the public to “bear with us” since specimen results “would take a lot of time to arrive.”
Taruc added that DOH has already shifted its control strategy from containment to mitigation, which means that A(H1N1) cases will now be treated as an ordinary flu.
A DOH update No. 35 has stated that “Those manifesting with mild symptoms can be managed and monitored at home so that only patients at risk who develop complications will have to be hospitalized.”
A(H1N1) virus is spread from person-to-person and is transmitted as the normal seasonal flu and can be passed to other people through coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled or contaminate hands or surfaces.
Signs of A(H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose.
Health Sec. Francisco Duque III disclosed that as of June, there are 1,709 confirmed A(H1N1) cases reported. He said 1,485 of these cases have already recovered, while the rest are still under treatment.
As this developed, the DOH has already designated the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) as the Regional Satellite Referral Hospital to handle treatments and or confinement of any victim of A (H1N1) in the region.
ZCMC has also stacked 5,000 Tamiflu capsules and organized its personnel protection equipment like mask, goggles, and gowns including the assignment of trained nurses for A(H1N1) patients.