CABANATUAN CITY – Health and education authorities have allayed fears over the reported contact of the 19-year-old woman, who was confirmed to have infected with Influenza A(H1N1) virus, with 29 students and several other relatives.
The patient who arrived from the United States last May 20 attended the funeral of a relative in a Nueva Ecija municipality, according to a report from the Department of Health.
The issue broke out and created widespread fear as classes for school year 2009-2010 started on Monday, education officials conceded.
But Dr. Wilfredo Corpuz, head of the Task Force H1N1 of the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRC) and Dr. Antonio Felix, medical officer IV of the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Nueva Ecija both said the case has been handled effectively in accordance with the instituted protocol.
For instance, Felix said, the students who had contact with the patient were properly advised not to go to school and practice self-quarantine as DOH officials monitor their condition. All the students, as well as other people, who had close contact with the Balikbayan girl, were given doses of proper medication.
Thus, the officials said, students can actually go to school without any fear of H1N1 virus spread.
DOH officials reported the patient voluntarily submitted herself to the authorities for check-up upon developing flu-like symptoms. This made the handling of the case easier for the authorities, according to the DOH.
Dr. Tarcila Javier, Nueva Ecija schools division superintendent, had advised teachers and students to calm down amid reports, saying all precautionary steps to avert the spread of the virus were properly undertaken.
Corpuz said the maintenance of sanitation and building up of resistance are the best protection against the H1N1 virus.
“Matulog nang husto, uminom ng maraming tubig, kumain at magpahinga at maging malinis,” he said.
The patient who arrived from the United States last May 20 attended the funeral of a relative in a Nueva Ecija municipality, according to a report from the Department of Health.
The issue broke out and created widespread fear as classes for school year 2009-2010 started on Monday, education officials conceded.
But Dr. Wilfredo Corpuz, head of the Task Force H1N1 of the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRC) and Dr. Antonio Felix, medical officer IV of the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Nueva Ecija both said the case has been handled effectively in accordance with the instituted protocol.
For instance, Felix said, the students who had contact with the patient were properly advised not to go to school and practice self-quarantine as DOH officials monitor their condition. All the students, as well as other people, who had close contact with the Balikbayan girl, were given doses of proper medication.
Thus, the officials said, students can actually go to school without any fear of H1N1 virus spread.
DOH officials reported the patient voluntarily submitted herself to the authorities for check-up upon developing flu-like symptoms. This made the handling of the case easier for the authorities, according to the DOH.
Dr. Tarcila Javier, Nueva Ecija schools division superintendent, had advised teachers and students to calm down amid reports, saying all precautionary steps to avert the spread of the virus were properly undertaken.
Corpuz said the maintenance of sanitation and building up of resistance are the best protection against the H1N1 virus.
“Matulog nang husto, uminom ng maraming tubig, kumain at magpahinga at maging malinis,” he said.
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