Celso, CHO reiterate call: don’t panic but heed anti-swine flue measures
Mayor Celso Lobregat and City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos yesterday advised the public anew not to panic but remain vigilant and strictly heed all measures to prevent from being contracted with the A (H1N1), a viral infection declared by the World Health Organization to have reached the pandemic level.
This, as the Department of Health (DOH) regional office late Friday afternoon reported two additional cases in the region—one involving a 63-year old woman from Pasonanca this city and the other, a 58 year old resident of Siocon and working in Makati, Manila.
On Thursday, health authorities reported the first ever A (H1N1) case—a 9-year old boy studying at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, who contracted the virus from a visitor-family friend from Manila who was later found positive of the infection. The boy however, has recovered from the infection and has returned to class since June 29.
Mayor Lobregat assured that the city government through the CHO under Dr. Agbulos is undertaking all steps in contain the spread of the virus but emphasized that personal hygiene and discipline is the best step to prevent anybody from contracting the infection.
Dr. Agbulos said the CHO has intensified its information dissemination campaign on how to control and prevent the spread of the virus that has caused so much national and international scare.
Based on the report from the DOH, the 63-year old woman apparently contracted the disease during her travel, as she was reported to have come from California recently. She was down with influenza two weeks ago and the results of tests on her swab samples that found her positive of A(H1N1) virus was released Friday afternoon, July 3.
“She is well now and contact tracing is being done to ensure the spread of the virus”, Dr. Agbulos revealed stressing “let us not be alarmed but let us continue to follow all the preventive measures”.
The 58 year old Siocon resident has also recovered and returned to work in Makati a week before the swab samples result was released. Accordingly, the patient became ill June 22 and consulted physicians at the Zamboanga City Medical Center the same day.
A(H1N1) has symptoms similar to ordinary flu like high temperature, colds, cough, sore throat and body pains. Without medical attention, the infection may lead to pulmonary infection and other complications especially on patients with low resistance.
Health authorities recommend the following measures to prevent contamination: maintain healthy living by getting sufficient rest, avoid stress, eat nutritious foods and take Vitamin C, maintain cleanliness and sanitation, cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, wash hands regularly.
Dr. Agbulos reiterated that a four-bed isolation ward has been reserved at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) for influenza patients, should there be any in the future.
Mayor Lobregat together with Dr. Agbulos, ADZU president Fr. Antonio Moreno and school physicial Dr. Edwina Cabato and representatives from the DOH held a press conference to relay information about the first positive case of A(H1N1) in the city with the hope that the media will handle information very carefully so as not to unduly alarm the public. (Sheila Covarrubias)