UCLM isolates 19 studes suspected of "swine flu"

CEBU, Philippines – The administration of the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue (UCLM) where some students have been found positive of the A(H1N1) virus has isolated 19 other, who manifest flu-like symptoms from the rest of the 600 maritime scholars quarantined inside the dormitory.

One of them has to be admitted yesterday to a private hospital due to fever and vomiting at the same time, while another was isolated for developing chickenpox.

While this developed in Cebu, the country registered its first death due to the swine flu, a 49-year-old woman in Manila.

The Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) however clarified that these 19 students currently isolated are still cases under observation for Influenza A (H1N1) infection as results of their swab tests are still pending at the Collaborative Molecular Laboratory (CML) of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

While DOH-7 awaits the result, the cause of vomiting will not be considered as due to H1N1, but the student was already given medication.

Yesterday, eight more students inside the dormitory developed fever and swab specimens were taken from them last night.

The specimen will be examined at the (CML) which currently has 18 specimens being tested with results due this morning. About 16 of these 18 specimens are from UCLM students.

Samples that will be tested positive will still be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila for sub-typing or confirmatory test because the CML has no capability yet to determine if the Influenza A virus that affects the patients matches with the A (H1N1) strain.

DOH-7 Regional Director Susana Madarieta said they are expecting more students to develop flu-like symptoms as sustained transmission inside the dormitory is now inevitable.

The school however still tries hard to contain the virus and prevent its further spread by designating rooms for isolation of sick students, for those who have recovered and for healthy ones.    

DOH-7 spokeswoman Dr. Cora Lou Kintanar said that they have visited the dormitory yesterday and saw that the school has already disinfected the area in preparation for June 29 resumption of classes.

The dormitory was barricaded and a separate pathway was created so other students of UCLM will not be able to get near the area.

Madarieta commended the school’s administration for suspending the classes and do the necessary measures to prevent the further spread of the virus among the students.

“It is a good move on the part of the school administration though the secretary does not advise for campus wide suspension of classes if the infection is only localized,” Madarieta said.

Madarieta reported that confirmed cases in the region already pegged at 12. The number includes the first four confirmed cases that have already turned negative after recovering.

The other eight were added to the list just last Saturday where three of which are the UCLM maritime students, a 40-year old female from Japan, a six-year-old boy and his seven-year-old sister both from the United States, a 21-year old male who had a contact with a French man and a 33-year-old male tourist guide.

The fatality in Manila reportedly died due to congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction which possibly could have been exacerbated by the virus, health secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Reports said that according to the patient’s family the woman developed flu-like symptoms on June 17. She still went to work that day but reportedly become restless two days later.

This prompted her family to call for medical help but the woman died at home before doctors could have saved her.

Duque said the woman had a pre-existing heart and liver disease that worsened her infection. Swab samples were taken from her when she was already dead and results confirmed that she has the virus.

In Cebu, health officials told the public to not panic even as the first death related to H1N1 has been reported.

There is still no community sustained transmission and efforts are continuous to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Assurance From School Prexy

UC president Augusto Go told The Freeman yesterday assured that they are taking strict measures to ensure that the Influenza A (H1NI) virus that hit UC Lapulapu Mandaue campus will not happen in their three other campuses.

UC has three other campuses located in Mambaling, Banilad and in Sanciangco.

Go also expressed his thanks for the immediate response of the Department of Health and for doing an “excellent job”.

At the UCLM campus, several parents and relatives were bringing food, drinks and multi-vitamins to their loved-ones, who were currently quarantined at the UCLM dormitory, which is located with the school campus.

Nerissa Pioda, mother of one of the 600 students being quarantined said that she is giving multi-vitamins to her child to further boost the latter’s immune system.

The security guard assigned at the main gate of UCLM was the one who will give these items to the intended beneficiary, as parents and relatives were not allowed to go inside the school campus to prevent being infected with the disease.

A piece of paper was given to the parents or relatives wherein the name of the student as well as the things given were indicated therein. —with Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)