Parañaque health officer: 4 coeds possible carriers of H1N1 virus

MANILA, Philippines - Four students of the Parañaque National High School who are possible carriers of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, are now under observation.

City health officer, Dr. Olga Virtusio, said one of the students had been in contact with a relative who has contracted the A (H1N1) virus, while the three others reportedly have fever. “We’ve been coordinating closely with school officials and they confirmed that a student has been exposed to a relative who was infected with the virus. The student however, is doing very well and is not sick at all though strict measures still have to be applied in this case,” Virtusio said.

She said that they already notified the Department of Health concerning the said student. As to the three other students, the health official said they were initially diagnosed to be suffering from the common flu but their condition should further be checked.

However, classes at the said school located along Sucat in Barangay San Dionisio have not been suspended. Nelson Lacambra of the City Media Bureau, said there is no announcement yet if classes will be suspended. He said the school principal is still assessing the situation if there is a need to suspend classes. “It will also depend on the results of the tests done on the four students,” Lacambra said.

Incidentally, the city government adopted additional measures to counter the threat of Influenza A (H1N1) in the city. Apart from its continuing information drive in schools, communities and business establishments, the city announced that starting June 16, it has confined entry to and exit from the city hall only through the main lobby.