First swine flu case posted in Cordi; extra care urged

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – City officials advised residents to be extra cautious but to remain calm now that the first case of Human Influenza A (H1N1) affliction has been confirmed in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Acting Mayor Daniel Farinas said as advised by health officials, there is no cause for alarm as the situation is under control but the public needs extra vigilance in caring for their health as a safeguard against the disease.

City health officer Dr. Florence Reyes said the first H1N1 case was confirmed by the Department of Health Cordillera director Myrna Cabotaje but no details on the identity of the patient and the circumstances of the affliction were divulged.

The patient is said to have recuperated but remained confined at home and monitored daily.

The DOH-CAR had been monitoring the first four suspected cases called cases under observation (CUOs), three of which had been cleared albeit eight new cases had been added to the observation list as of Friday even as intensive contact tracing and surveillance operations continue.

Reyes said the city is maintaining its advice for travelers from abroad – with or without symptoms -- to observe a ten-day self-quarantine and social distancing of six feet or two meters upon arrival to observe for signs and symptoms.

She said that with the opening of classes, the advice is especially directed to students, school faculty and staff, local or foreign, who will come home from travel abroad for the opening of classes.

This is to prevent the possible spread of the disease since these travelers especially those from countries with H1N1 cases can be carriers of the disease.

She reiterated that those who would experience while in isolation any symptom such as fever, chills and fatigue; muscle and joint pain; sore throat; headache and body pains; coughing and sneezing; nausea vomiting and diarrhea are advised to immediately seek medical attention while those who would not develop any symptom after the ten-day period will be considered out of danger.

Reyes said continuous surveillance, contact-tracing and massive information drive are being conducted in the city in coordination with the DOH-CAR.

The disease response flow is still in effect with the Baguio General Hospital designated as referral hospital for suspect cases for the city.

The health advisory distributed by the health office said the disease is spread through close personal contract and respiratory secretions propelled by sneezing or coughing.

It stressed that the virus is not transmitted by eating pork.

Residents with symptoms are advised to consult their doctors or go to the nearest health facility immediately and to refrain from self-medicating.