DOH: No sign of A(H1N1) virus getting nastier, at least for now
10/27/2009 | 09:02 AM
Amid its preemptive moves for a possible second wave of A(H1N1)virus infections, health officials reassured the public Tuesday there is no sign of the strain growing nastier than it was, at least for now.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said his department is in constant communication with the World Health Organization (WHO), and there is no sign the flu virus has mutated into a stronger breed.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo lagi sa WHO. Walang ebidensyang naging mabangis ang AH1N1 virus. Patuloy ang mitigation and containment measures (We are in constant contact with WHO. There is no evidence it has become nastier. So our mitigation and containment measures will remain)," he said in an interview on dzXL radio.
Duque reiterated there is no cause for alarm, even if the virus has already been in the Philippines, and that the disease is already considered a pandemic.
Besides, he said, more than 99 percent of A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines had recovered, with the 30 who died with complications from other diseases like heart and liver diseases.
In contrast, he said, leptospirosis cases had a higher mortality rate, with 157 dying from it in the last three weeks. He also noted more people died from dengue, 38, so far this year.
“Usual na ginagawa natin ang quarantine measures at meron din tayong thermal scan (We will continue with our usual quarantine measures and thermal scans at airports)," he said.
He also noted the government already issued 19 guidelines on what to do with A(H1N1) cases.
On the other hand, Duque said the DOH will monitor developments on the A(H1N1) virus, saying it does not discount the virus eventually evolving and becoming nastier.
“Nariyan ang takot at 'di naman pwedeng sabihing walang batayan ang takot na yan (There are always fears of such a virus becoming nastier, and we cannot just dismiss it)," he said. - GMANews.TV
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said his department is in constant communication with the World Health Organization (WHO), and there is no sign the flu virus has mutated into a stronger breed.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo lagi sa WHO. Walang ebidensyang naging mabangis ang AH1N1 virus. Patuloy ang mitigation and containment measures (We are in constant contact with WHO. There is no evidence it has become nastier. So our mitigation and containment measures will remain)," he said in an interview on dzXL radio.
Duque reiterated there is no cause for alarm, even if the virus has already been in the Philippines, and that the disease is already considered a pandemic.
Besides, he said, more than 99 percent of A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines had recovered, with the 30 who died with complications from other diseases like heart and liver diseases.
In contrast, he said, leptospirosis cases had a higher mortality rate, with 157 dying from it in the last three weeks. He also noted more people died from dengue, 38, so far this year.
“Usual na ginagawa natin ang quarantine measures at meron din tayong thermal scan (We will continue with our usual quarantine measures and thermal scans at airports)," he said.
He also noted the government already issued 19 guidelines on what to do with A(H1N1) cases.
On the other hand, Duque said the DOH will monitor developments on the A(H1N1) virus, saying it does not discount the virus eventually evolving and becoming nastier.
“Nariyan ang takot at 'di naman pwedeng sabihing walang batayan ang takot na yan (There are always fears of such a virus becoming nastier, and we cannot just dismiss it)," he said. - GMANews.TV
