UPDATE NO. 10 from the Republic of the Phils Department of Health

May 14, 2009

As of date, we have not found any Filipino resident or any visitor to the Philippines to be influenza A (H1N1)-positive. From the among the 49 cases that had been reported by government and private hospitals to have undergone clinical observation in their facilities and whose laboratory results have been processed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, NONE have tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus. Thus, all these 49 cases have been declared definitely "not A (H1N1)" cases and have been discharged.

 

From May 1, 2009 until today, 49 total cases under observation or CUOs at various government and private hospital facilities had been reported to the RITM for laboratory confirmation. This is an increase of 3 from yesterday’s total of 46 CUOs. All laboratory results are in and, we reiterate that all are negative and all CUOs had been discharged clear of the new influenza virus. This indicates that it is highly probable that the influenza A (H1N1) virus or its carrier has, so far, not been able to penetrate our public health cordon.

 However, on the global front, WHO (World Health Organization) reports that every day more countries are finding laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1). It has been found in North and South American, European and Asian countries, and in Australia and New Zealand as well. There are now 5,728 cases and 61 deaths reported and confirmed by the WHO from 33 countries. This is the reason why we continue to be vigilant and to institute measures to tighten our defenses at the various ports of entry at Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

 Systematically and without causing undue alarm and panic, our National Quarantine Officers, in coordination with airline and shipping authorities, have patiently required travelers coming from influenza-affected countries to be screened for signs and symptoms of the virus. However, because of the variable onset of signs and symptoms of the new influenza, we cannot presume to have a completely foolproof screening system.

 Thus today, we are issuing an "Interim Guideline for Public Gatherings in Response to the Influenza A (H1N1) Threat." This Guideline will apply to all persons who have commitments or have choices to make with regards attending, gracing or hosting public gatherings. The Guideline is patterned after the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, USA, though, it is tailor-fit to the risks we have locally at present. This means that as the disease pattern and risks change and as information is updated, the DOH may have to issue newer guides to the public for the prevention and containment of influenza A (H1N1).

 This Guideline is focused on precautionary measures all of us should employ when organizing or when attending public gatherings where we are likely to be exposed to probable positive cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus—we would like to emphasize here that these precautionary measures are applicable now while we have yet no evidence of any positive case of influenza A (H1N1) infection among our incoming travelers nor of community transmission.

 The guideline refers to public gathering as defined by CDC: "an assembly or grouping of many people in one place…and can include commencement exercises, church services, sporting events, concerts, social and cultural celebrations, weddings, conferences and other similar activities attended by relatively large groups of people." The common denominator of all these is any situation in which crowding is likely to occur. While we advocate for social distancing as the principal measure to protect one’s self while among or when coming from a community with known positive cases, we are recommending this set of precautionary measures for public gatherings in general, while we have YET no public health indication to ban public gatherings as in some parts of Mexico.

 The principles used for this Guideline has been applied to our People’s Hero, Manny Pacquiao … is now being applied to American Idol, David Cook and American Idol runner-up, David Archuleta, and will be therefore be applied to other public gatherings of such nature.

 In brief, we are recommending that event organizers and event hosts to: (1) provide information to guests, participants or audience about what to do in case they have flu-like illness, (2) make available adequate hand washing facilities with disinfectant soap or sanitizers and (3) suggest other options for participation such as video-conferencing, wider open spaces, etc.

 All persons, especially those in public places, are recommended to practice healthful respiratory- or lung-clearing practices and regular hand washing. Those who have known health problems that make them susceptible to infections are advised to keep away from crowds. Health care workers who are tasked to handle emergencies in public gatherings are advised to have personal protective N95 masks ready for persons who may develop the signs and symptoms of influenza A (H1N1).

 The DOH would like to thank the press and media practitioners and the general public for their interest and understanding of the public health situation. I also thank especially those who have cooperated with us in this daunting and necessary work of preventing the entry of influenza A (H1N1) to the country…those who have been working 24 hours in our ports of entry and referral hospitals and those who have allowed to be subjected to hospital-based or home quarantine.