Senate employee confirmed with A(H1N1) virus

MANILA, Philippines - A Senate employee has been confirmed infected with the A(H1N1) virus, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Friday. Radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo reported this was the first confirmed case in the chamber. Enrile said he will discuss with Senate doctors what possible precautionary measures to take to prevent the virus from spreading among employees there. The Senate, with more than 1,000 employees, has no thermal scanners or A(H1N1) checks installed in its premises, the radio report said. Last month, a 49-year-old employee of the House of Representatives was found to be the first A(H1N1)-related death in the country, prompting the House leadership to suspend operations for nearly a week. At least three other cases were confirmed in the House, although all have now reportedly recovered. Health officials said there are now 1,709 confirmed A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines as of Wednesday, although 86 percent or 1,485 of the patients have already recovered. - with a report from Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV