A(H1N1) cases forces 3 schools in Baguio, Bacolod to suspend classes

MANILA, Philippines – A university in the northern city of Baguio and two more schools in Bacolod were the latest academic institutions to suspend classes after some of their students were found positive of A(H1N1) virus or manifested symptoms of the disease, reports said Wednesday. Baguio City's St. Louis University (SLU) announced that it was calling of its classes Tuesday night following the confirmation that one of its students has contracted the Influenza A(H1N1) virus while several others have displayed flu-like symptoms. In Bacolod, classes at St. Joseph High School were suspended Tuesday afternoon after 172 students were absent due to fever, said City Health Officer Dr. Salome Biñas said. Online site Visayan Daily Star, meanwhile, reported that the Jack & Jill School in Villamonte village suspended classes until Friday as a precautionary measure. An advisory posted on the SLU website said classes are suspended in all levels and will resume on July 20. Dr. Nicolas Gordo of the Department of Health's (DOH) Cordillera regional office said that as of Wednesday (July 8), 20 people in the region were found positive for the virus. "But all have fully recovered," Gordo said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. Gordo also confirmed that the suspension of classes at SLU was due to the A(H1N1) case. Of the 20 people found positive with the A(H1N1) virus in the region, Gordo said three are aged five years old and below; nine are 10 to 19 years old; and the rest are adults up to 60 years old. Ten are males and the rest are females. Three of the confirmed cases had history of travel from the United States, he said. Bacolod St. Joseph’s High School and Jack & Jill School were just the latest to suspend classes in Bacolod due to swine flu, as A(H1N1) is also known. Last week, La Consolacion College called off its classes after 150 students showed flu-flike symptoms. Classes resumed Tuesday. St. John’s Institute shuttered earlier last week after 165 of its students tested positive for the virus. Classes resumed Monday. University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos also closed temporarily after 168 students were found with the virus. It was to resume classes this week. Bacolod Christian College of Negros (formerly Bacolod Christian Center) will resume classes Thursday. The schools were just among a growing list of institutions stricken by the fast-spreading virus, which has affected 1,709 in the country as July 6. The figure apparently does not include the cases in some of the schools mentioned earlier. The Department of Health was supposed to issue an update on Wednesday but called of its press briefing without saying why. Worldwide, the World Health Organization’s tally as of July 6 was 94,512 cases, with 429 deaths in about 120 countries. Philippine officials, nonetheless, have assured the public that the cases in the country are “mild" and most of the patients have recovered. Only one patient has died so far but officials said she had other illnesses such as diabetes and respiratory ailments. Most of the affected schools have resumed classes. [See: Schools with confirmed A(H1N1) cases] These schools are: * De La Salle University in Manila * Far Eastern University-East Asia College * De La Salle-College of St. Benilde * Ateneo de Manila University * Hilera Elementary School in Jaen, Nueva Ecija * Doña Canderlaria Meneses High School in Bulacan, Bulacan * Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College (Marikina) * Mapua Institute of Technology (Manila) * Mapua Institute of Technology (Makati) * Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas campus * Miriam College * Dominican College * The British School * Lagro Elementary School * Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science and Technology High School * University of the Philippines (Diliman) * Lourdes School * St. Paul College * University of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu Mandaue * Sta. Rosa Central School * Karangalan Elementary School (Cainta, Rizal) * San Beda College * St. Bernadette College * PAREF Southridge School * Reedley International School * La Salle Greenhills * Don Bosco Technical College * University of Sto. Tomas * St. Scholastica’s College * Adamson University * Canossa * Claret School * Assumption College * Lagro High School * Maria Montessori School * St. Joseph Catholic School * Holy Spirit School Last July 1, the Health Department said that 1,079 were found positive for the A(H1N1) virus, but 86 percent or 1,485 of the patients have already recovered and have been discharged. The country’s first A(H1N1) related death was announced by the DOH on June 22. The fatality was a 49-year-old woman, who had existing medical conditions. – with Mark Merueňas, GMANews.TV