95% of 91 H1N1 cases in Central Visayas treated - DOH

CEBU, Philippines - Forty-five new confirmed cases of H1N1 have brought to 91 the total number of those afflicted by the virus in Region 7, which makes Central Visayas the sixth region with the highest number of H1N1 cases in the country.

The good news is, 41 of the 45 cases have already been treated while the four others inflicted with the virus are now recovering, said Department of Health spokesperson Cora Lou Kintanar.

Similarly, the students of Argao National High School who were earlier reported of having symptoms of the flu have tested negative of H1N1.

Kintanar said the 45 cases are mostly from schools, including the St. Francis of Assisi School, Paref Springdale, Bethany Christian School, and Mary Help of Christian School.

Kintanar said the swab samples from the 45 respondents were not immediately tested because the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine was flooded with swab samples lately. However, more recent swab samples from possible carriers of the virus no longer need to be sent to Manila after primer kits for the laboratory arrived here in Cebu.

In a related development, faculty members of a university in Cebu City reportedly had themselves checked at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center the other day after a teacher showed symptoms of the flu. Test results are yet to be released.

But Kintanar emphasized that even if a school has numerous cases, suspension of classes is no longer recommended. Instead, those found with symptoms of the H1N1 would be advised to stay home.

DOH reiterated that there is no community outbreak in Region 7, as cases here can still be traced and managed. — AJ A. de la Torre/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)