RP flu toll up to 14, says health dept

By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:25:00 05/29/2009

Filed Under: Swine Flu, Health, Diseases

MANILA, Philippines -- The country's total confirmed cases of A(H1N1) infection rose to 14 after health officials confirmed four more cases on Friday.

The four new cases, all Filipinos, include a two-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man who had contact with two Taiwanese nationals, who were infected with A(H1N1) at a wedding reception in Zambales province, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

This brought to eight the total number of Filipinos who were infected by the Taiwanese mother and child, who learned that they had the diasease upon return to Taiwan.

The two other new cases include a 19-year-old woman and a seven-year-old girl, who came from the United States, where a community outbreak of the disease was recorded, Duque said.

“As DoH (Department of Health) anticipates cases to rise as is happening in other countries, there is no cause for alarm. The increase can be attributed to the ease of virus transmission and freedom of travelers," he said.

"Right now, most cases are mild and self-limiting with a case fatality of one percent, very low compared to dengue which killed 57 in April,” he said.

“The most important thing is we do not have severe case or death, there is no indication of sustained community transmission so we do not recommend to postpone classes on June 1,” he said.

To streamline hospital resources, Duque said suspected A(H1N1) cases under observation would be quarantined in their homes, instead of in hospitals.

Later Friday, Duque will chair a National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) meeting to discuss preparedness plans against the spread of the virus.

Since May 1, the DoH reported 211 cases under observation, of which 14 were confirmed cases. Twenty-five persons wre awaiting test results, 27 were under observation while 172 were cleared.

Foreign countries will start issuing travel advisories... then tourism goes down.