Basic lesson from A(H1N1): Stay clean
A prominent doctor in Pangasinan said there is a valuable lesson to be learned from the Influenza A (H1N1) virus that is currently on the spread – observe personal and social hygiene and maintain a healthy body.
VILLAFLOR
Dr. Vivencio Villaflor, medical director at his family-owned Villaflor Doctors Memorial Hospital in Dagupan City, said these simple practices are often neglected and taken for granted but are, in fact, very important in avoiding infection by viral diseases.
“The washing of hands with soap is very important, whether there is AH1N1 infection or any kind of epidemic. We should make this our habit,” said Villaflor, co-chairman of the Multi-Agency Task Force in the fight against AH1N1 in Dagupan City.
Speaking during the KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas) Forum at the Philippine Information Agency center in Dagupan, Villaflor cited Singapore which has a law that imposes a fine on anyone who does not wash his or her hands after using the rest room.
Villaflor’s advice was echoed by his fellow medical practitioners, including Dr. Leonard Carbonell, city health officer, and Dr. Jackson Soriano, provincial health officer.
Villaflor said people should wash their hands thoroughly with soap that has a caustic soda that can kill germs or with alcohol.
The Department of Health has reported 33 confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in the country as of June 5.
The suspected A(H1N1) case in a Dagupan hospital last week has tested negative of the virus.
COUGH AND
SNEEZE RIGHT
Meanwhile, Dr. Jennifer Ann Mendoza Wi, a member of the DOH technical working group on influenza, speaking during a symposium here on Tuesday, emphasized that flu is not airborne but a droplet spread.
One can prevent the spread of the droplet, according to Wi, by coughing and sneezing under one’s own shirt and never on the lapel or any outside part of the shirt.
“It may be funny, Villaflor said, but this way of coughing and sneezing will prevent the spread of flu virus, whether it is the seasonal type or the more virulent types such as the A(H1N1) influenza”.
Wi said coughing or sneezing on tissue paper is not an assurance that the droplet will not spread as the tissue paper may spread the virus upon disposal. — LM
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