DOH asked to explain late info on 1st A(H1N1)-related death

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker on Tuesday asked the Department of Health (DOH) to explain the delay in announcing the place of work of the first A(H1N1)-related fatality in the country. House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez sought the explanation after finding out that the 49-year-old female victim was an employee in the building used by the House Committee on Health during a hearing on A(H1N1) last Monday. “The DOH should explain why they did not right then and there disclose that info in spite of my repeated questions on where the fatality was from. I believe we should have been told that our area was potentially risky area," he said in a text message to reporters. In an interview with GMANews.TV on Tuesday, House health committee chair Arthur Pingoy said the unidentified fatality was an employee on the third floor of the Ramon V. Mitra building in the Batasan complex. The DOH, in a press briefing on Monday, said the woman died of "congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction" on June 19. The victim was the first A(H1N1)-related death in the country and in Asia. Meanwhile, the number of A(H1N1) cases in the country is now at 473, with 400 patients already discharged. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV