Six more under watch for H1N1

CEBU, Philippines – Six patients have been quarantined and are now under observation after they arrived in Cebu with flu-like symptoms over the weekend.

The total number of Cases Under Observation in Cebu has reached 23, 17 of which have already tested negative of Influenza A(H1N1) while the results for the remaining six, who are the latest ones, are still pending.

DOH spokeswoman Dr. Cora Lou Kintanar said that throat specimens were already sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine where these will be examined.

The latest patients were first brought to private hospitals with mild symptoms like fever, cough and sore throat.

Three were isolated on May 23 and three on May 24. Four of them are Filipinos while two are Americans. Most of them are children with ages ranging from one to eight years old.

Kintanar said that most CUOs are children and elderly because these are the groups with weak immune systems.

“Children have not developed a strong immune system while the immune system of old persons has already deteriorated. They are more vulnerable to diseases such as H1N1,” Kintanar said.

She added that the rise in the number of CUOs is not because our guard is weakening but because there is increasing awareness and vigilance among people especially those who have traveled in infected countries who follow the precautionary advice of the government.

Kintanar said that they are expecting more because it is flu season at this time of the year. Because of unstable weather, many suffer from flu.

She reiterated that the entry of the virus in the country is not something that should cause panic because it is self limiting if complications will be prevented.

Most of those who died from H1N1 have concomitant conditions which mainly caused the complications. Kintanar explained that the casualties may have been suffering from other diseases like diabetes, congenital diseases and hypertension among others which made them more prone to severe conditions.

The DOH assured the public that the government has the capability to contain the virus and avert a community level outbreak.

Kintanar said that the preparedness set-up is always in place and there is a strict monitoring and surveillance in points of entry such as airports and seaports.

She said that the public must be more cautious of dengue because it is more fatal than H1N1. The World Health Organization reported that the fatality rate from H1N1 is only 0.7 percent which is even less than one percent. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)