SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ – Officials of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) here have instituted measures to contain the spread of the A(H1N1) virus which had already affected a number of students.
Five students, selected in random from among the many who sought treatment for flu-like symptoms, tested positive of the virus per laboratory test done by the Department of Health (DOH).
The number of positive cases could be more but no further throat swabs were done as there were not enough material for this procedure, sources said.
CLSU infirmary records indicated that from July 1 up to last Thursday, a total of 1,151 students, staff members, staff dependents, and outsiders sought treatment for flu-like symptoms.
The number of persons in the university who are complaining of fever, as of late, indicated that the virus has not left the 685-hectare CLSU campus.
According to Nora Magno, a CLSU infirmary staff and a member of CLSU-DOH monitoring team, 98 students with flu-like symptoms sought treatment in the infirmary Wednesday. This number was a sharp rise from 56 who sought treatment Tuesday.
They were given paracetamol and vitamins and were told to rest in their dormitories, Magno said.
About 15 of them, however, opted to stay in the infirmary, she added.
Magno said the DOH gave five packs of Tamiflu capsule to be administered to those found positive with the virus and to high-risk cases with flu-like symptoms. She added that two students, one with a heart problem and another with asthma, are given Tamiflu.
Dr. Danilo Tan, CLSU vice president for academic affairs, said massive disinfecting with Lysol or Domex of the classrooms, dormitories, offices and other areas on campus was ordered Wednesday.
He also said that sanitizers and soaps were provided in comfort rooms and washing areas in different colleges and in student dormitories inside the campus.
Tan also said that massive information campaign on A(H1N1) and common flu, good nutrition and self-protection of all concerned is on-going. He added that persons with fever must at once seek advice from the CLSU Health Services or sent home and that they must wear protective mask.
As report of A(H1N1) cases were being monitored here, it came to light the case of a second year female garment technology student who died Monday morning in a hospital in Cabanatuan City.
The 19-year old student, according to Dr. Elizabeth Suba, dean of student affairs, went home Friday in her hometown of Llanera, Nueva Ecija complaining of "uncomfortable feelings" and slight fever. She was brought by her parents to an emergency hospital on Saturday but when she got delirious she was transferred to a government hospital in Cabanatuan City early Sunday morning.
"She reportedly became comatose a few hours after she was brought to the hospital in Cabanatuan City. She died Monday morning," Suba said.
Suba said she pleaded to the family for an autopsy of the victim, as recommended by doctors, to determine exactly what caused the death of the girl. But the parents, she said, refused, saying "Ipinagpasa-Diyos na lang po namin ang naging kapalaran niya (We just left her fate to God".
Dr. Ruben Sevilleja, CLSU vice president, said the necessary medicine and vitamins needed by the affected students were being provided by the university.
He added that emergency purchases were authorized for the acquisition of the materials and supplies needed to help prevent the spread of the virus on campus.
Classes in CLSU were not suspended. In fact, the university went on with its scheduled first term examination Thursday and Friday.
