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)

RP reports first case of A-H1N1 virus

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 22, 2009) – Philippine authorities have confirmed the country’s first case of influenza A (H1N1) after a ten-year old girl was tested positive for the virus.

But Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the girl has recovered and would be discharged from the hospital soon. The unnamed girl arrived from the United States with her parents in the Philippines on May 18.

It was unknown how many people came in contact with the girl.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Arroyo has reiterated her directive to the Department of Health, the Bureau of Immigration and other concerned government agencies to “stay on top of this issue and keep her always updated.”

He said health authorities were already retracing the “girl’s tracks in order to identify and contain the possible path of infection” to stop the virus from spreading.

The Philippine News Agency also reported the government had undertaken a comprehensive range of immigration precautions and public health measures to protect the country against the spread of the virus.

“Unfortunately, the global village is getting smaller every day, and so it was just a matter of time before the virus caught up with us. Now that it is here, we must become even more vigilant and continue to observe common sense, precautions to avoid catching the disease or spreading it to others,” Remonde said.

The World Health Organization said at least 41 countries have reported more than 11,000 cases and 85 deaths since the breakout of the virus in La Gloria, Mexico early this year. (Mindanao Examiner)

All About Swine Flu

The Philippine News Service would like to provide information about swine flu to our school districts, parents and the community and to monitor developments nationally and internationally.

Below are some of the most current and informative links about the topic.
Here are some facts:

Swine flu is a respiratory (breathing) infection caused by influenza viruses found in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu.

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Please see your health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms.

Swine flu is spread person to person through coughing and sneezing from infected people. It cannot be transmitted by eating pork or pork products.

The most effective precautions for you and your family to take are the following:

If you are sick, stay home from school or work to avoid contact with other people and risk infecting them.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.