CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Health (DOH) in Central Luzon disclosed that at least eight persons manifested either fever or other flu-related symptoms after they went recently to a wedding reception also attended in Zambales by two Taiwanese nationals who later tested positive of H1N1 flu.
DOH Regional Director Dr. Rio Magpantay said some of the eight developed flu-like symptoms, while the others reported sore throat and cough.
The DOH is tracking down more than 50 persons who were at the Zambales party last May 17. The guests were from various parts of Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
Magpantay declined to give further details pending the results of laboratory tests done on the eight persons and asked media to refrain from mentioning their location to avoid panic.
City of San Fernando City Administrator Fer Caylao said that swab samples from the eight were taken at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital here for tests at the Regional Tropical Institute of Medicine (RITM).
In Zambales, Renerio Tutol, executive assistant of Gov. Amor Deloso, told Punto that none of locals who were at the party has been reported to be sick with flu symptoms in his province.
Tutol said folk even in Iba, Zambales have remained calm, despite reports that the party attended by the infected Taiwanese nationals was held at the Baliambay resort in Barangay Amungan in their town.
The Taiwanese, a mother and her daughter, arrived in the country last May 15, attended the party in Iba on May 17 and returned to Taiwan on May 20. They were found with A(H1N1) symptoms upon arrival at the Taiwan airport.
“Our local hospitals have had no report of anyone manifesting symptoms of A(H1N1) after the party. We were even told by the DOH that the infected Taiwanese were asymptomatic when they were here and therefore could not have contaminated anyone,” Tutol added.
In an earlier interview, Magpantay said it was unlikely that the Taiwanese A(H1N1) victims could have transmitted the ailment to the party goers in Zambales as their infection at that time was in incubation stage. He said that contamination could occur only after the symptoms of H1N1 manifest.
He also said that the Taiwanese nationals probably were already infected when they arrived in the Philippines last May 15, as he noted that the symptoms were detected only when they returned to Taiwan on May 20. The H1N1 virus, he noted, has an incubation period of seven to 10 days.
Despite this, the DOH is taking no chances by tracking down the party guests have monitoring them, he added.
In this capital town, reports that the eight wedding guests were at the Jose B. Lingad hospital triggered some panic starting last Tuesday.
“A text message was spread saying that H1N1 was confirmed at the hospital and it even gave the names of a doctor and Mayor Oscar Rodriguez together with fictitious telephone numbers. It’s all baseless,” Caylao said.
He said that not all eight were from Pampanga. However, he said that one was reported to be a resident of Barangay Pulong Bulo in Angeles City.
“After swab samples were taken from them, they were allowed to go home but were told to observe quarantine measures,” he said.
The Angeles City health office led by Dr. Cheryl Tuazon said, however, it was not aware of any suspected case of H1N1 in the city.
Magpantay stressed that no case of H1N1 flu has been confirmed in Central Luzon as the results on the tests on the eight persons who were at the Zambales party remained pending.
DOH Regional Director Dr. Rio Magpantay said some of the eight developed flu-like symptoms, while the others reported sore throat and cough.
The DOH is tracking down more than 50 persons who were at the Zambales party last May 17. The guests were from various parts of Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
Magpantay declined to give further details pending the results of laboratory tests done on the eight persons and asked media to refrain from mentioning their location to avoid panic.
City of San Fernando City Administrator Fer Caylao said that swab samples from the eight were taken at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital here for tests at the Regional Tropical Institute of Medicine (RITM).
In Zambales, Renerio Tutol, executive assistant of Gov. Amor Deloso, told Punto that none of locals who were at the party has been reported to be sick with flu symptoms in his province.
Tutol said folk even in Iba, Zambales have remained calm, despite reports that the party attended by the infected Taiwanese nationals was held at the Baliambay resort in Barangay Amungan in their town.
The Taiwanese, a mother and her daughter, arrived in the country last May 15, attended the party in Iba on May 17 and returned to Taiwan on May 20. They were found with A(H1N1) symptoms upon arrival at the Taiwan airport.
“Our local hospitals have had no report of anyone manifesting symptoms of A(H1N1) after the party. We were even told by the DOH that the infected Taiwanese were asymptomatic when they were here and therefore could not have contaminated anyone,” Tutol added.
In an earlier interview, Magpantay said it was unlikely that the Taiwanese A(H1N1) victims could have transmitted the ailment to the party goers in Zambales as their infection at that time was in incubation stage. He said that contamination could occur only after the symptoms of H1N1 manifest.
He also said that the Taiwanese nationals probably were already infected when they arrived in the Philippines last May 15, as he noted that the symptoms were detected only when they returned to Taiwan on May 20. The H1N1 virus, he noted, has an incubation period of seven to 10 days.
Despite this, the DOH is taking no chances by tracking down the party guests have monitoring them, he added.
In this capital town, reports that the eight wedding guests were at the Jose B. Lingad hospital triggered some panic starting last Tuesday.
“A text message was spread saying that H1N1 was confirmed at the hospital and it even gave the names of a doctor and Mayor Oscar Rodriguez together with fictitious telephone numbers. It’s all baseless,” Caylao said.
He said that not all eight were from Pampanga. However, he said that one was reported to be a resident of Barangay Pulong Bulo in Angeles City.
“After swab samples were taken from them, they were allowed to go home but were told to observe quarantine measures,” he said.
The Angeles City health office led by Dr. Cheryl Tuazon said, however, it was not aware of any suspected case of H1N1 in the city.
Magpantay stressed that no case of H1N1 flu has been confirmed in Central Luzon as the results on the tests on the eight persons who were at the Zambales party remained pending.
