Filtered By: Topstories
News

DOH urged to reveal more details on first A(H1N1) case


MANILA, Philippines — Church officials urged the Department of Health (DoH) to reveal more details on the first case of influenza A(H1N1) in the country. Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), revealing a few more details about the 10-year-old girl would in fact be important in deterring the possible spread of the deadly virus, which already killed 86 people and affected more than 11,000 individuals worldwide. In particular, the DOH needs to identify the province where the first case of A(H1N1) was recorded so that appropriate precautionary measures would be undertaken, said Quitorio. “The DOH should announce where the victim is including where that person came from so that we will know what kind of precautionary measures to implement," he said. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said the family of the girl requested to hide their identity as well as other details for their own protection. The girl and her mother arrived in the country on May 18 from the United States. Duque on Friday said that health workers were tracking down 17 Filipino co-passenger of the victim since they had been exposed to the virus. Church services On suggestions that churchgoers refrain from holding hands during mass, Quitorio said the decision rests on the individual bishops and priests. “This is in order not to create panic and fear among the faithful. So the person in charge of the area should really study the situation," he said in an interview. Quitorio said he is personally in favor of imposing the “no holding hands" or even wearing mask. “If the situation is really serious then maybe they should suspend the mass just like what they did in Mexico," he said. - GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT