Important Events: Philippines
On June 23, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that there is now a “low-level community outbreak” of Influenza A(H1N1) virus in Metro Manila, even as 28 individuals were added to the list of cases in the country, raising the total to 473. Duque said those affected by the low-level outbreak are mostly areas in Quezon City, Parañaque City and Manila. But he clarified that there is no “huge clustering of cases” in any community in the metropolis. He maintained that a majority of the schools with confirmed cases were situated in these cities. “You can put it this way: where are the schools where you already have school community transmission beyond second level? But it is still a very limited number (of cases), therefore it’s just a low-level transmission,” he said.
On June 22, the first Influenza A(H1N1)-related death in the country and in Asia was reported by Sec. Duque. The fatality is that of a 49-year old female who is known to have a pre-existing chronic heart disease was also found to be positive for A (H1N1). He said that the patient presented with flu-like symptoms starting on June 17 consisting of dry cough, fever and chills and difficulty of breathing just before death on June 19. Duque said that post-autopsy findings disclosed that the death was caused by congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction aggravated by severe pneumonia either bacterial, viral or both. He said a throat-swab revealed that she was positive for A (H1N1). This case turned out to be an employee of Congress’ House of Representatives which prompted House Speaker Prospero Nograles to order the suspension of work at the House of Representatives until June 28 for the sanitation of its buildings.
On June 11, Director-General Mararet Chan of the World Health Organization declared that the “world is now at the start of the 2009 Influenza pandemic ” after raising the Pandemic Alert Level for the novel Influenza A virus from Level 5 to Level 6. This means that the new A (H1N1) virus has now spread and caused sustained community level outbreaks in at least one or two countries in two WHO Regions. It has initially affected US and Mexico (North America) which are the epicenters of this pandemic and has shown a fast and steadily increasing number of cases particularly in the United Kingdom (Europe), Chile and Argentina (Latin America) as well as Australia, Japan and China (Western Pacific Region) which show that the virus is contagious and easily transmissible from person to person. As of this date, there are nearly 30,000 confirmed cases of A (H1N1) from 74 countries and this is expected to increase further in the coming days and months.
On May 22, Sec. Duque, while attending a World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, confirmed via teleconferencing, the first case of Influenza A(H1N1) infection in the country in a 10-year-old Filipino girl who arrived from the United States with her parents on May 18.
In April, cases of human infection with Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 were first confirmed in the U.S. in Southern California and near Guadalupe Country, Texas. The outbreak intensified rapidly from that time and more and more states have been reporting cases of illness from this virus. This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory tests showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.
What You Should Know About Influenza A(H1N1)
What is Influenza A(H1N1)?
Influenza A(H1N1) is caused by a novel virus that resulted from the reassortment of 4 viruses from pigs, human and birds. It is a new virus causing illness in people. It was first detected in people in April 2009 in the United States. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. There is no vaccine yet to protect humans from this virus. There are existing and recommended medicines that are effective in treating Influenza A(H1N1).
What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in humans?
Similar to the symptoms of regular flu such as: fever, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint pains, lack of appetite, runny nose, sore throat and cough. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
How does A(H1N1) virus spread?
It is spread in the same way that seasonal flu spreads from person to person: through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza, or by touching things with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
What should I do to protect myself from getting the flu?
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.
• Always wash hands with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. You may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Increase your body’s resistance: have at least 8 hours of sleep; be physically active; manage your stress; drink plenty of fluids; eat nutritious food.
• Avoid close contact with sick people. Stay home if you are sick until you are symptom-free to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Follow public health advice.
What should I do if there is a sick person at home?
• Immediately bring the sick person to a doctor.
• Provide a separate room in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter away from other family members.
• Make sure the sick person wear surgical mask.
• Have proper ventilation where the sick person stays.
• Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the sick person.
• Keep the environment clean.
Where can I seek medical attention?
If you are in the Philippines, the following Department of Health hospitals are designated as Referral Centers for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases like Influenza A(H1N1):
National Referral Center
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
Tel No. 809-7599
Sub-national Referral Centers
Luzon and Metro Manila
San Lazaro Hospital
Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
Tel. No. 732-3776 to 78
Lung Center of the Philippines
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. No. 924-6101/Fax No.:924-0707
Visayas
Vicente Sotto Medical Center
Cebu City
Tel. No. (032) 253-9882/2540057
Mindanao
Davao Medical Center
Bajada, Davao City
Tel. No. (082) 221-6574
Satellite Referral Hospitals
East Avenue Medical Center
East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. (02) 928-0611 to 22
Quirino Memorial Medical Center
Katipunan Road, Project 4, Quezon City
Tel. No. (02) 421-2250 to 61
Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila
(02) 711-9491 to 98
Rizal Medical Center
Pasig Boulevard, Pasig City
(02) 671-9740 to 43
and the
Regional Hospitals/Medical Centers of 16 regions
Be vigilant! If you have fever for 2 days and history of travel to Influenza A(H1N1) affected countries, immediately consult a doctor. For more information on Influenza A(H1N1), call (02) 711-1001 or 711-1002.
On June 23, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that there is now a “low-level community outbreak” of Influenza A(H1N1) virus in Metro Manila, even as 28 individuals were added to the list of cases in the country, raising the total to 473. Duque said those affected by the low-level outbreak are mostly areas in Quezon City, Parañaque City and Manila. But he clarified that there is no “huge clustering of cases” in any community in the metropolis. He maintained that a majority of the schools with confirmed cases were situated in these cities. “You can put it this way: where are the schools where you already have school community transmission beyond second level? But it is still a very limited number (of cases), therefore it’s just a low-level transmission,” he said.
On June 22, the first Influenza A(H1N1)-related death in the country and in Asia was reported by Sec. Duque. The fatality is that of a 49-year old female who is known to have a pre-existing chronic heart disease was also found to be positive for A (H1N1). He said that the patient presented with flu-like symptoms starting on June 17 consisting of dry cough, fever and chills and difficulty of breathing just before death on June 19. Duque said that post-autopsy findings disclosed that the death was caused by congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction aggravated by severe pneumonia either bacterial, viral or both. He said a throat-swab revealed that she was positive for A (H1N1). This case turned out to be an employee of Congress’ House of Representatives which prompted House Speaker Prospero Nograles to order the suspension of work at the House of Representatives until June 28 for the sanitation of its buildings.
On June 11, Director-General Mararet Chan of the World Health Organization declared that the “world is now at the start of the 2009 Influenza pandemic ” after raising the Pandemic Alert Level for the novel Influenza A virus from Level 5 to Level 6. This means that the new A (H1N1) virus has now spread and caused sustained community level outbreaks in at least one or two countries in two WHO Regions. It has initially affected US and Mexico (North America) which are the epicenters of this pandemic and has shown a fast and steadily increasing number of cases particularly in the United Kingdom (Europe), Chile and Argentina (Latin America) as well as Australia, Japan and China (Western Pacific Region) which show that the virus is contagious and easily transmissible from person to person. As of this date, there are nearly 30,000 confirmed cases of A (H1N1) from 74 countries and this is expected to increase further in the coming days and months.
On May 22, Sec. Duque, while attending a World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, confirmed via teleconferencing, the first case of Influenza A(H1N1) infection in the country in a 10-year-old Filipino girl who arrived from the United States with her parents on May 18.
In April, cases of human infection with Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 were first confirmed in the U.S. in Southern California and near Guadalupe Country, Texas. The outbreak intensified rapidly from that time and more and more states have been reporting cases of illness from this virus. This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory tests showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.
What You Should Know About Influenza A(H1N1)
What is Influenza A(H1N1)?
Influenza A(H1N1) is caused by a novel virus that resulted from the reassortment of 4 viruses from pigs, human and birds. It is a new virus causing illness in people. It was first detected in people in April 2009 in the United States. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. There is no vaccine yet to protect humans from this virus. There are existing and recommended medicines that are effective in treating Influenza A(H1N1).
What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in humans?
Similar to the symptoms of regular flu such as: fever, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint pains, lack of appetite, runny nose, sore throat and cough. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
How does A(H1N1) virus spread?
It is spread in the same way that seasonal flu spreads from person to person: through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza, or by touching things with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
What should I do to protect myself from getting the flu?
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.
• Always wash hands with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. You may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Increase your body’s resistance: have at least 8 hours of sleep; be physically active; manage your stress; drink plenty of fluids; eat nutritious food.
• Avoid close contact with sick people. Stay home if you are sick until you are symptom-free to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Follow public health advice.
What should I do if there is a sick person at home?
• Immediately bring the sick person to a doctor.
• Provide a separate room in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter away from other family members.
• Make sure the sick person wear surgical mask.
• Have proper ventilation where the sick person stays.
• Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the sick person.
• Keep the environment clean.
Where can I seek medical attention?
If you are in the Philippines, the following Department of Health hospitals are designated as Referral Centers for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases like Influenza A(H1N1):
National Referral Center
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
Tel No. 809-7599
Sub-national Referral Centers
Luzon and Metro Manila
San Lazaro Hospital
Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
Tel. No. 732-3776 to 78
Lung Center of the Philippines
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. No. 924-6101/Fax No.:924-0707
Visayas
Vicente Sotto Medical Center
Cebu City
Tel. No. (032) 253-9882/2540057
Mindanao
Davao Medical Center
Bajada, Davao City
Tel. No. (082) 221-6574
Satellite Referral Hospitals
East Avenue Medical Center
East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. (02) 928-0611 to 22
Quirino Memorial Medical Center
Katipunan Road, Project 4, Quezon City
Tel. No. (02) 421-2250 to 61
Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila
(02) 711-9491 to 98
Rizal Medical Center
Pasig Boulevard, Pasig City
(02) 671-9740 to 43
and the
Regional Hospitals/Medical Centers of 16 regions
Be vigilant! If you have fever for 2 days and history of travel to Influenza A(H1N1) affected countries, immediately consult a doctor. For more information on Influenza A(H1N1), call (02) 711-1001 or 711-1002.
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