Swine flu deaths in Cordillera rise to 3

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera office of the Center for Health Development here confirmed reports three persons died of complications of the flu caused by the dreaded A(H1N1) virus.

The Cordillera CHD also reported the number of confirmed cases in the region continues to increase.

As of July 21, only Apayao had not reported a confirmed case of the dreaded flu which is now posting low-level transmission in the region, including this mountain resort city.

Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, Cordillera CHD director, said the three A(H1N1)-related deaths in the region were a 25-year-old pregnant woman who was considered high risk when she gave birth to twins; a 10-day-old baby who suffered from respiratory disease; and a 17-year-old student, who had complications aggravated by typhoid fever.

She said health authorities are looking into the possibility of a fourth death caused by conditions related to A(H1N1). The victim belonged to the “risk group.”

The CHD official reported there are five individuals who were classified as high-risk patients and who were recently confirmed to be also infected with the dreaded virus. Health workers in the health clinics and hospitals where they are confined are closely monitoring their conditions.

Records show there are 137 confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in the region since May 22, 2009 with Baguio City having 114 cases. It is followed by Benguet with 11; Abra, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Ifugao, three cases each.

But Cabotaje said that 90 percent of the confirmed cases or 114 individuals have recovered from the flu virus.

She said the death of the three patients were not directly caused by the A(H1N1) virus, but because of their high-risk conditions. They died of complications.

Despite the increasing number of deaths and confirmed cases of the flu, the health official assured that the situation in the region is still under control, and so there is no reason for the public to panic about the disease. What is important is for the people to keep themselves healthy by eating the right kind of food and having sufficient rest, she said.

With the unpredictable weather condition prevailing in the region, she expected a continuous increase in A(H1N1) cases.

The rainy season is also considered as the flu season, and so people suffering from flu-like symptoms must immediately seek medical attention, she said.

She said high-risk patients are those who are suffering from other illnesses aside from A(H1N1).