Local executives urge DOH: Be more transparent on A(H1N1) cases

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Local government officials have urged the Department of Health (DOH) to be “more transparent” in its reports on A(H1N1) flu cases in the country to allay fears and enable them to mobilize their own resources to curb the spread of the virus.

“It would be better for the DOH to disclose at least the province where H1N1 cases have been confirmed,” Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao told The STAR after a text message saying that local officials here had confirmed A(H1N1) cases sowed panic among city folk.

Guiao cited reports that in other countries affected by A(H1N1), health officials give out the location of the victims.

For his part, Angeles City administrator Mark Allen Sison said that although he supports the DOH policy of not disclosing the identities and exact locations of the A(H1N1) cases, keeping mum on their general location could only lead to more widespread panic.

In Angeles City alone, Sison said 11 residents had themselves tested for possible A(H1N1) infection despite having had no contact with possible contaminants.

“Of course, their tests turned out to be negative. They seemed to have panicked,” he said.

Dr. Rio Magpantay, DOH-Central Luzon director, said the policy of not pinpointing the location of A(H1N1) victims was meant to prevent panic.

He has requested the media to just disclose the region where there are cases.

But Guiao said identifying at least the province of a confirmed case “would enable the local government to institute measures not only to avoid the spread of H1N1, but also to avoid panic.”

“Some transparency in dealing with the problem could be beneficial in this regard, while lack of transparency could make the situation worse,” he added.

Earlier, the DOH was apparently compelled to identify Zambales as having cases after a Taiwanese woman and her daughter infected guests of a wedding party they had attended there.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan has no confirmed A(H1N1) cases under observation, Dr. Jennifer Ann Wi, a member of the DOH technical working group on A(H1N1) influenza, told a symposium on the health concern sponsored by the Dagupan City government yesterday.

Wi, president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, lauded city officials for holding the symposium, saying, “This is a good incentive for all of us.”

Dr. Leonard Carbonell, city health officer and head of the multi-agency Task Force on AH1N1 created by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., said they wanted to increase awareness on the disease and emphasize hygiene among residents.

“Everyone is susceptible. There’s no immunity yet because this is a new strain,” he said. – With Eva Visperas