Influenza case rose to 21, DOH: Don’t Panic

Manila, Philippines --- The number of Filipinos infected by the Influenza virus A(H1N1) rose to 21 as of Monday, but the Department of Health stressed that ‘there’s no need to panic.’

Radio DWiZ reported that the National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag stated that there’s still no community-level outbreak in the Philippines, stating that a four-level warning system should be placed to halt the spread of the virus.

"We have no community outbreak yet, but we ave issued guidelines for the Department of Health, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education at Technical and Educational Skills Development Authority --a response system in a scale of 1 to 4]," Tayag stated through interview over the radio.

He also stated that as of Tuesday morning, there is no case of A(H1N1) in schools, so therefore the moving of classes is not reasonable.

Tayag added that the only time were schools need to close if only there’s a community-level outbreak.

"Kung malawak ang community-level outbreak, maraming iskwelahan [ang] maaring magsara [It is only when community-level outbreak is widespread that schools can close]," he said.

5 new AH1N1 cases; total now at 21 Monday night when it was reported that five more Filipinos were found to be positive for Influenza A(H1N1).Separate DWiZ radio report said that DOH confirmed that a 40-year-old female and a 51-year-old male ---got the virus after attending the wedding in Zambales; where an infected Taiwanese mother and daughter attended the occasion.

The three other patients have travelled the United States and developed symptoms after they arrived in the Philippines where a 19-year-old male, a 45-year-old male, and a 39-year-old female were infected by the flu virus.

The total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 21. Of the 21 cases, 10 got the virus from the Taiwanese nationals.

DOH, DepED makes new alert system for schools Tayag plans to do a four-level scanning system--the new alert system being put up by the DOH and the DepEd.

These two government agencies stated that they hope the alert system would serve as a guideline--on when the schools can trace the presence of the virus and the students can b sent back to their homes.

The same with regular Storm Signal warnings, the A(H1N1) alert levels start from Level 1 and peak at Level 4. When a Level 3 was found in the school, the superintendent is given the authority to halt the classes.

If the alert level goes up further by one more level to Level 4, the situation will be brough to the Regional DepEd office, only the Regional Director has the right to say if the student can go home.

Paula Isaiah L. Panganiban with reports from Judith Larino-Estrada