Deferment of school opening mulled after 1st A(H1N1) case

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Health and Education officials are monitoring the situation and will coordinate on whether to postpone the opening of classes after confirming the first A(H1N1) case in the country. But at least for now, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH), there is no immediate need for postponement of the opening of classes. Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said Friday they would conduct a day-to-day evaluation of the situation and coordinate with the DepEd. "We will coordinate with the DepEd. Sa ngayon walang indication para i-postpone ang pagbukas ng klase. Walang community level outbreak sa ngayon so walang indication ipagpaliban ang pagbukas ng klase," Villaverde said in an interview on dzBB radio. [We will coordinate with the DepEd. As of now there is no indication that we need to postpone the opening of classes - no sign of community-level outbreak.] DepEd Metro Manila chief Teresita Domalanta voiced surprise over Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's confirmation of the country's first A(H1N1)case, but said postponement would require a "major decision." "Nakakaalarma ito at siguradong pagmi-mitingan ngayon yan. Hintayin natin ang desisyon ng nakakataas sa atin. Makiki-coordinate sa advice ng DOH. Sa ngayon walang instruction pero siguro malalaman natin yan. That's a big decision na manggagaling sa taas," Domalanta said in an interview on dwIZ radio. [This is alarming and we will have to meet on that. We should wait for the decision of higher-ups. This will be a major decision that will have to come from higher-ups.] Radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported that as of Friday morning, the DepEd said there are no changes in plans to start the school year on June 1. On the other hand, National Epidemiology Center head Eric Tayag said the incident shows the need to take precautions against A(H1N1) even if one had already passed through airport thermal scanners. Tayag said they are observing 77 possible cases, but 73 have so far tested negative. He said results for the remaining four could come out "anytime." He said that in the case of the 10-year-old girl, she developed symptoms of the flu Tuesday, a day after arriving in the country. The hospital where she was confined has reported her condition is improving, and that she could rejoin her family, he said in an interview on dwIZ. Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde, in an interview on dzBB radio, said the members of the girl's household, especially her mother, had been given medication. Villaverde refused to give the girl's whereabouts, except to say she is in Metro Manila. She was in contact with the household after her arrival, and she had a fever the day after her arrival. But we are conducting contact tracing to make sure she did not come into contact with other people, he said. "We need to be vigilant and cautious," he added. Villaverde said they would contact the airliner that took the girl back to the country and possibly get in touch with other passengers on that flight. "This is a foreign airline but we'd rather not mention it," he said when asked about details. Tayag said they have been repeatedly advising the public to observe their health condition for 10 days even if they passed through the airport scanner. He said those who suspect they have symptoms of A(H1N1)could call the Health Department hotline at 7111001. - GMANews.TV