Zamboanga reports first Influenza A (H1N1) case

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 2, 2009) – Philippine health authorities on Thursday confirmed another case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

Authorities said a nine-year old student from Ateneo de Zamboanga was positively tested for the virus. The boy, a Grade 3 student, was infected with the deadly virus after contacts with a woman who came to Zamboanga from Manila on June 12.

Officials did not say whether the woman was the boy’s relative or not.

They said the woman was apparently unaware that she was infected with the virus and learned about it when she returned to Manila and has been tested positive from Influenza A (H1N1).

She phoned the boy’s family in Zamboanga and told them to bring the child to the hospital for medical test. The boy is the first confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Zamboanga.

Fr Antonio Moreno, president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga, has confirmed the case and said they are assessing the situation and would be meeting with health officials whether to suspend the class where the boy belongs.

“We will be meeting also with all the parents of the students in that particular class to determine if there is a need to temporarily suspend the whole class or not. There are some cases of flu and colds in that class, but we still don’t know whether it is Influenza A or not and we have already sent swab samples to Manila to determine if they are Influenza A,” he said.

Several suspected infections were also reported in other government elementary schools in Zamboanga, but laboratory tests are still on going. It was not immediately known how many suspected cases were reported in those schools. But health officials said there are at least 12 suspected cases of the virus in Zamboanga City; 2 in Isabela City in nearby Basilan province and two in Zamboanga del Norte and 2 more in Zamboanga del Sur provinces.

The Influenza A (H1N1) virus is spread from person-to-person. It is transmitted as easily as the normal seasonal flu and can be passed to other people by exposure to infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled, or that can contaminate hands or surfaces.

The signs of influenza A (H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III reported that the Department of Health (DOH) is further bolstering its mitigation efforts against Influenza A (H1N1) in light of the anticipated rise of cases in the country.

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

Duque said that 1,709 confirmed A (H1N1) cases have been reported to the DOH from the May to June. He said 1,485 of these cases have already recovered, while the rest are still under treatment.

“All cases exhibited mild symptoms with the most common as fever (86%), cough (81%), and nasal congestion (49%),” Duque said, noting however, that there was one reported death in Manila – a 49-year old woman who was an employee of the House of Representatives.

Duque disclosed that of the 1,709 reported cases, 1,568 were Filipinos; the rest were American (17), Japanese (8), Chine (4), Korean (3), German (2), and one each from Australia, Canada, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Sweden, Thailand, and Turkey. (Mindanao Examiner)

DOH study recommends ban of aerial spraying

Children patiently wait for the officials of the Department of Health to receive their flowers, their token of support to the agency, after it released its study recommending a ban on aerial spraying of pesticides as farmers exposed to aerial spraying hold a picket Tuesday, May 12, 2009 and call on the DOH to take concrete actions on the aerial spraying. (Photo by Brian Agrazamendez)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - The impact of aerial spraying of pesticides compelled medical doctors under the Department of Health (DOH) to recommend the banning of aerial spraying method in the country, based on their study “Health and Environmental Assessment of Sitio Camocaan in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur”.

The DOH-commissioned study which was conducted in 2006 and presented in Davao City on Tuesday, said that “aerial spraying of pesticides should be stopped and a shift to organic farming techniques should be considered”.

This is one of the major calls of the researchers based on key findings such as 82 percent of respondents from Sitio Camocaan were indirectly exposed to aerially sprayed pesticides and 52 percent of whom experienced eye pain, eye tearing, headache, eye redness, eye itchiness, dizziness and skin itchiness which are consistent of acute effects of pesticides.

The study also found pesticide in the blood samples of community residents, which were not workers of the plantation. Pesticide was also found in the soil and air samples of Camocaan.

Moreover, the recommendation was also based on results that “unusual neurologic and dermatologic conditions were observed among the Camocaan group such as severe developmental delays, chloracne and cutaneous lupus erythematosus, thyroid gland disorders which are warning cases of long-term exposures to pesticides”.

“We are glad that finally, the aerial spraying issue is getting much deserved attention from the Department of Health. The people have suffered enough. The findings are a vindication that indeed these pesticides are designed to kill and there are many people from provinces outside Davao City with agribusiness banana plantations who are being poisoned by these chemicals,” said Cecilia Moran, a farmer from Dacudao, Davao City and president of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS).

Carina Cardinas, president of the members of the Digos City Working Women's Guild stated in her letter to DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III that they fear the long-term effect of aerial spraying in their area.

Many of her members whose houses are located very near a banana plantation are already complaining of symptoms and sickness brought about by aerial spraying. (“Natatakot po kami sa pangmatagalang epekto nang palaging pagbuga ng lason dahil ngayon pa lang, kung ano-anu na ang mga nararamdaman at mga sakit ng mga tao.”) her letter to Duque reads.

Former plantation workers of the Lapanday Group of Companies under the GADECO Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc. (GARBAI) also share Cardinas' lament.

GARBAI Chairman Juanito Nava told Secretary Duque in a letter that many of them were struck with illness and died of undetermined cause. Until now, they continue to fear for their lives due to long term exposure to aerially sprayed pesticides. (“Marami rin sa aming mga kasamahan ang nagkasakit at namatay sa di malamang dahilan. Natatakot po kami sa pangmatagalang epekto nang palaging pagbuga ng lason dahil ngayon pa lang, kung ano-ano na ang mga nararamdaman at mga sakit ng mga tao.”)

Representing Davao del Norte province, Danilo Taghoy, an official of Taba village, also expressed alarm over complaints of coughing, dizziness, headache that they continually experience brought about by aerial spraying in their area. Taghoy and the others joined the Davao-based Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS) in a rally in front of the Regency Inn here where the DOH was to hold the study presentation.

Bringing flowers that symbolize their wish for a life free from poison spray, the farmers and environment advocates offered their presents to DOH and asked the agency to immediately act on the study recommendation to ban the toxic shower.

The study which was headed by principal investigator Dr. Allan Dionisio of the National Poison Management and Control Center was conducted in 2006 to document the health and environmental conditions existing in Sitio Camocaan, in response to complaints of residents which is adjacent to the Lapanday banana plantation where aerial spraying has been a practice for many years now.

The study compared two communities in terms of socio-economic and demographic profile which are Camocaan ang Baliwaga, also in Davao del Sur. In terms of distance, the difference is that Camocaan is adjacent to a banana plantation which aerial sprays pesticides while Baliwaga is 15 km. away from the nearest banana plantation but is 1.5 km. farther from two mango plantations.

Dr. Dionisio and his team also recommends an establishment of a health surveillance to detect chronic effects of pesticides which include a more detailed neurodevelopmental assessment of children, a follow up of previously diagnosed conditions, a screening for thyroid gland abnormalities and liver cancer, and periodic screening of biomarkers of pesticide exposure among residents.

They also called on concerned government agencies to review the guidelines for protecting communities from pesticide contamination from large plantations. (Angging Aban)

DOH inks agreement with ARMM to implement health investment plan

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 23, 2009) - The Department of Health (DOH) has signed Thursday a memorandum of agreement with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the implementation of the Investment Plan for Health (IPH) in an effort to further improve the health sector in the five provinces under the ARMM.

The MOA stipulates the relationship of the DOH and the autonomous regional government in the exchange of resources and investment for health in the ARMM. It also formalized the alliance for health sector reform implementation in the autonomous region.

The ARMM IPH is a strategic framework geared towards the improvement of health services in the region and the plan is based on the FOURmula One for Health program, a medium term roadmap for health sector reforms in the Philippines covering 2005-2010.

“We recognize the need for a comprehensive reform of the health sector. Our people, regardless of economic background, deserve appropriate and quality health service,” ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan said in a statement.

He also cited President Gloria Arroyo’s continuing support for the ARMM’s peace and development efforts.

The MOA essentially covers the release of funds or commodities and report of expenditures and the implementation of programs, projects and activities, including the utilization of resource transfers, and the working arrangements and procedures for its implementation, according to the ARMM Bureau of Public Information.

DOH-ARMM Secretary Tahir Sulaik said the high incidence of maternal and infant mortality, malnourishment and other health problems are their biggest problems.

Sulaik said with the ARMM IPH, the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi would be receiving proper and efficient health services because it provides for strategies for governance, service delivery, financing and regulation of the region’s health sector.

Sulaik said they hope the ARMM IPH would finally allow them to cater efficiently to the health needs of people in the region and even those in remote communities with the creation of more “Botika ng Barangay”, rural health units and construction and improvement of hospitals and other health facilities.

While DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said with the ARMM’s high poverty incidence and long history of armed conflict, they are now giving top priority to the region. He also announced during the signing ceremony held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City, the transfer of P17-million to DOH-ARMM as initial funding for the implementation of the ARMM IPH.

Ampatuan expressed full commitment to the implementation of the ARMM IPH and the FOURmula One for Health program, adding that for the region to move forward and establish economic gains, crucial health sector reforms must first be achieved. (Mindanao Examiner)

Pneumonia Kills 11 In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 25, 2008) – At least 11 children had died from pneumonia in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, and health officials say the number of cases of the deadly disease is alarmingly increasing.

“Eleven children are confirmed to have died due to pneumonia and there is a steady increase in pneumonia cases here since last month. This is already alarming,” Eufran Dagalea, Zamboanga City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit nurse, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the deaths were recorded last week and health workers have been monitoring cases of pneumonia in hospitals. He said hundreds of pneumonia cases were recorded since early this year.

“There is a sharp increase in pneumonia cases compared to last year and this could be attributed to several factors, including sanitary conditions in areas where the patients come from, poor hygiene and even the weather,” Dagalea said.

He said two representatives from the National Epidemiology Center in Manila have arrived here Tuesday to help local health authorities in monitoring pneumonia cases, especially in children.

Dr Ricardo Angeles, chief of the Zamboanga City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, has confirmed that eleven children had died from the deadly disease. He said health officials are monitoring the situation here, although there is still no declaration of outbreak of pneumonia.

Cases of pneumonia in children have increased sharply from an average of 160 a month in 2007 to more than 400 each month this year. Although the exact numbers of previous deaths were not readily available for comparison, health officials urged parents to immunize their children and shield them from the deadly disease.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung, and can be caused by nearly any class of organism known to cause human infections. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

It is also the most common fatal infection acquired by already hospitalized patients. In developing countries, pneumonia ties with diarrhea as the most common cause of death.

Dr Rodelyn Agbulos, chief of the Zamboanga City Health Office, said the increasing numbers of pneumonia cases, many in infants, was noted since July.

“We advice the public to take good care of their health and to practice good personal hygiene, parents must allow their children to be immunized in health centers, and to maintain a good and balanced nutrition and exercise regularly to enhance the immune system,” Agbulos said.

Antibiotics are usually given since most pneumonia cases are associated with bacterial infection. It is also important that the proper antibiotic is taken at the correct dosage, time and duration. Inability to do so may lead to resistant organisms that are more difficult to treat.

Agbulos said health workers have intensified their campaign in different villages to educate parents about the importance of immunizations and proper children’s health care. (Erico Rosco)