Five patients to be tested again for A (H1N1)

Five patients who have been under observation for Influenza A (H1N1) will be tested again even after the initial results showed that they are negative of the virus.

Dr. Cora Lou Kintanar, Department of Health-7 spokesperson for A (H1N1) cases, explained that the patients need to have their specimen swabs taken again to ensure that they are really out of danger.

Kintanar said the patients are now in good health. The results of the first test showed that they have similar viral characteristics of A (H1N1).

She, however, said there were no lapses in the first test but that they just wanted to make sure that the patients did not have the virus.

She said they have already taken swab samples from the patients and the results would be out today.

So far, there are 25 suspected cases of A (H1N1) under observation by health authorities in Central Visayas. Of this figure, 17 are in private hospitals while the others are in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Kintanar said that since all swab samples are being sent to the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila, they are now looking at the possibility of having the test done in Cebu “since we have the machine that is being used also for checking other viruses.”

She said that the Polymerase Chain Reaction Machine could be used to check the swab samples taken from the patients but the World Health Organization still needs to check the machine.

Kintanar also announced that they have put up an additional hotline since many callers could not get through their first hotline.

She said that aside from reporting possible A (H1N1) cases, some people used the hotline just to ask questions.

The additional hotline is at 4124241. The first hotline, 4187636, is still available. — AJ de la Torre/LPM (THE FREEMAN)