RP Embassy in UK activates H1N1 hotline

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine officials in the United Kingdom and Ireland have activated a hotline for Filipinos based there to call if they have concerns about the A/H1N1 (swine flu) virus. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said this is aside from the Philippine Embassy's advice to all Filipinos in UK and Ireland to take precautionary measures against the A/H1N1 virus. "Filipinos who have concerns on A/H1N1 may call the Embassy hotline at 07802790695," the DFA said. As of May 3, the DFA said the World Health Organization has reported 15 cases of A/H1N1 in the United Kingdom and one in Ireland. There are 200,000 Filipinos in the United Kingdom and 12,000 in Ireland. On the other hand, the Philippine Embassy also instructed the Philippine Honorary Consulates under its jurisdiction to closely monitor suspected and confirmed swine flu cases and to report cases involving Filipino nationals. Meanwhile, the Philippine Nurses Association of UK, the largest organization of Filipino nurses in the United Kingdom, helped distribute the Embassy’s advisory and other UK Government reminders on the A/H1N1 outbreak. Filipino healthcare workers were specifically asked to take extra precautions. - GMANews.TV