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)

Kidapawan City intensifies campaign on Influenza A(H1N1)

Dr Ted Calica, of the Kidapawan City Hospital, speaks to students of Notre Dame College about the dreaded Influenza A(H1N1) virus. A local woman was said to be infected by the virus. The Philippines has reported its first Influenza A(H1N1)-related death and that hundreds of people are infected with the virus. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Geo Solmerano)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 30, 2009) – A Filipino woman returning from a trip in Manila was found infected with the Influenza A (H1N1), making her the first local to have contracted the dreaded virus.

The 38-year old victim who arrived in Kidapawan City with her husband is now being treated. Her husband, who recently returned from a job in Japan, was tested negative for the swine flu virus.

Local Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco also ordered an intensified campaign to prevent the spread of the virus. He also ordered local health officials to assist the woman’s family so they can be tested for the virus in Davao City.

He released funding to help support the campaign against the Influenza A (H1N1).

He urged residents to always wash their hands thoroughly using soap and water to help avoid the H1N1 flu virus. He said keeping the hands away from the face, covering nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, avoiding sick individuals, and staying home when sick are the best ways to prevent contracting and spreading the flu.

The H1N1 flu, also known as swine flu, is a respiratory illness similar to seasonal influenza. (Arlene Solmerano)

Basilan protocol for Influenza A(H1N1) sought

BASILAN, Philippines - While many hope it will not come, some believe it is just a matter of time that Influenza A(H1N1) will be coming to Basilan province. But how prepared are the Basileños in handling cases?

This was the main concern of some 50 participants during a recent forum on Influenza A(H1N1) organized by the Basilan Communicators Network (BASCOMNET) and the Department of Health-Center for Health and Development, Zamboanga Peninsula (DOH-CHDZP).

The participants, mostly member-agencies of the BASCOMNET have sought for a provincial protocol in managing cases of IA(H1N1) in Basilan. A protocol that will ensure full coordination among concerned agencies of government and medical team that will respond to a suspected case.

"This is what we are waiting from the Provincial Government to organize the soonest possible time," said DepEd Nurse Alex Anquillano. "At this time there is no existing task force or protocol in the province."

Anquillano disclosed that most of the schools were already given orientation about the virus, especially in Isabela City, through the initiative of the City Health Office, and that they are already starting to provide the necessary equipment and mechanisms in every school, unfortunately, Anquillano lamented the lack of funds and nurses.

The DOH National Center for Disease Prevention and Control has released its preparedness plan containing technical guidelines on various occasions, settings, and incidence. Since he is school-based, Anquillano only explained the preparedness plan for schools.

Nobody from the Provincial Health Office attended the forum.

Dr. Rufino Gaudiel of the Basilan General Hospital announced that throat swabbing is readily available in all hospitals in Isabela City in case symptoms of the virus would appear on individuals who had history of travel to areas known to be infected with the virus.

He advised the public, however, not to submit for swab test unless suspected cases are evident in the patient. This will also discourage panic, referring to some individuals who started to stock anti-flu medications. He strongly advise the public not to take Tamiflu if not inflicted with the IA(H1N1) virus.

Dr. Gaudiel gave a brief orientation about the virus and some updates from DOH on a national scene, and explained the preventive measures for individuals to remember. "Proper hand washing with soap and water is still our best defense against contracting viruses and diseases," he stressed.

He added that local hospitals can only do the testing. If a case is confirmed, the patient will be immediately vacated to Zamboanga City Medical Center where treatment will be administered for free. Representatives from the PhilHEALTH also confirmed the government’s assistance package to patients that will be inflicted with Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Veterinary Doctor Erwin Jalao explained the difference between the current Influenza A(H1N1) and the swine flu. While both have the same H and N, it is at the core of the virus where lays the difference. Thus, the swine flu, i.e. for pigs, has an existing vaccine, for the Novel Influenza A (H1N1) in humans is still being developed.

The participants of the forum agreed to appeal for the local government’s immediate response to establish protocol in managing cases of Influenza A(H1N1) in Basilan. The BASCOMNET headed by Myra Alih expressed gratitude to Vice Governor Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul and Provincial Board Member Munap Pacio, chairman of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan's Committee on Health, for supporting the forum. (Rene Carbayas)

Philippines Reports First Swine Flu Death

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 22, 2009) – A Filipino woman has died from the deadly Influenza A (H1N1) virus in Manila, health officials said on Monday.

Officials said the 49-year old woman’s autopsy showed that she died congestive heart failure and acute myocardial infarction aggravated by pneumonia. The death was the first in the Philippines, which has more than 400 reported cases of swine flu.

There were no details about the woman’s background or where she got the virus, but her family claimed the victim had flu symptoms before she died on June 19, two days later after the woman complained of difficulty in breathing, chills and dry cough.

It was unknown whether the woman’s family members were also infected with the virus or not.
Swine flu is a highly contagious form of human influenza caused by a filterable virus identical or related to a virus formerly isolated from infected swine. (Mindanao Examiner)