HEALTH ALERT SOUNDED

FIVE students from an elementary school in Dagupan City had been confirmed on July 19 to be positive of the deadly A(H1N1) virus.

But City Health Officer Leonardo Carbonell immediately assured that there is no cause for alarm as the infected students had already been isolated, placed under observation and are now recovering.

At the same time, Carbonnel called on the public to take all the necessary precautions against not just the A(H1N1) virus but other diseases as well, particularly dengue which usually proliferates  during the rainy season.

The five students were among eight pupils of the Lucao Elementary School who underwent a throat swab last July 16 after they and 77 others complained to be suffering from fever.

All the 85 pupils were examined but only eight were made to undergo throat swab and the specimens taken from them were immediately brought to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila.

The RITM quickly responded, giving the results after only three days instead of the two weeks as earlier expected.

The five pupils were given medication and advised to rest in their respective homes, take plenty of water or fruit juices, maintain a balanced diet and have at least eight hours of sleep everyday until they have fully recovered.

At the same time, all the people who came in close contact with the five pupils were monitored and advised to stay home.

Through contact-tracing, it was found that the five pupils, including the persons they had close contact with, had no history of travel. And neither did any of them go to Candon City in Ilocos Sur from where six students were earlier found positive of the A(H1N1) virus.

Councilor Jesus Canto said this means that the virus is no longer confined to specific areas and can now infect people who do not observe personal hygiene and follow a healthy lifestyle.

Canto, chairman of the city council’s committee on health and sanitation and also a doctor who previously served as director of the Region I Medical Center, said the flu that hit the students was only a mild strain, which could be treated with proper medication within three days.

When not immediately treated, the A(H1N1) virus could develop into bronchitis  and other upper respiratory diseases. It could prove to be fatal when the person afflicted is suffering from chronic diseases, like diabetes, heart condition or hypertension.

VACCINE

A(H1N1) vaccine is now available at the City Health Office, government and private hospitals but the volume is not yet enough for widespread  distribution.

Canto said those who could not access the vaccine need only to observe proper health measures.

He said the best way to prevent the disease is by regularly washing one’s hands thoroughly, avoid crowds, covering the nose and mouth when somebody is sneezing or moving away from the person sneezing or coughing.

Canto has proposed a resolution before the city council requesting all public and private schools in Dagupan to provide hand-washing facilities in their respective premises as a preventive measure against the spread of communicable diseases.

TYPHOID

Meanwhile, Canto also proposed a resolution in the city council requesting all commercial eating places in the city to have their food handlers and service and kitchen crews undergo anti-typhoid vaccination as a preventive measure against the possible outbreak of typhoid fever in the city.—LM

DENGUE OUTBREAK

In Mangateram, the Provincial Health Office has confirmed a dengue outbreak as 18 persons from various barangays were reported to have already been afflicted with the mosquito-borne disease.

Provincial Health Officer Anna Maria Theresa De Guzman said the 18 cases were recorded from January to July this year.

In the same period last year, 13 cases were recorded and the Municipal Health Office headed by Dr. Corazon Ayson considers the increase as quite unusual, thus the declaration of an outbreak.

The barangays with reported dengue cases have set aside at least P4,000 from their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share to be  used for a massive cleanliness and sanitation drive  aimed at  destroying the  breeding places of mosquitoes.

De Guzman hailed the move, saying only a concerted aggressive action of local government units and the communities can help the province fully address the dengue problem.

De Guzman, who was confirmed by the provincial board on Friday to replace former PHO Dr. Ferdinand Totaan who has been designated to another position, said 115 cases of dengue has so far been registered in the entire province this year.

She said this is still considered low as compared to the number of cases reported from January to July last year.–LM

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