DOH: Solons who flew to Vegas will undergo quarantine, too

MANILA, Philippines – Congressmen who had flown to Las Vegas for the boxing bout between Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton would also be subjected to quarantine measures upon their return to the country. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III made the statement in a press conference on Friday after he and other Health officials said anyone coming into the country, especially those from Mexico and the United States, will be screened and quarantined for possible infection with the H1N1 virus. "They will go through the usual quarantine measures. Nobody will be exempted, not even the congressmen who will watch Pacquiao, because we have to protect them," Duque said. Dr. Eric Tayag of the Health department’s National Epidemiology Center said several US states, including Nevada where Las Vegas is located, have already confirmed cases of infection with H1N1 influenza A virus. Everyone coming into the Philippines will go through thermal screening to check for fever and if found positive they would be isolated and further evaluated to determine if they were infected with the virus. "We are coordinating with the Bureau of Quarantine. All flights will be screened, no exceptions, from all international ports including airports and sea ports," said Tayag. Even without fever, all people coming into the country should perform self-monitoring tasks for 10 days, then immediately report to the DOH if fever develops within that period, health officials added. Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño and Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson had said congressmen who went to Las Vegas should be quarantined upon their return. Casiño, particularly, lamented the absence of a quorum on Wednesday’s plenary session because a number of congressmen purportedly left the country early for the boxing match. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV