DOH: 536 recover from flu

The Department of Health (DOH) emphasized the “mild nature” of Influenza A(H1N1), saying that while the number of cases rose to 727 as of yesterday, 536 of the patients have already recovered.

The World Health Organization (WHO) website showed that as of June 24, the Philippines ranked second in Southeast Asia for confirmed A(H1N1) cases, following Thailand which had 774 cases.

Apart from this, among the 102 countries with confirmed A(H1N1) cases, the Philippines placed 10th. Worldwide, there is now a total of 55,867 cases, including 238 deaths.

Dr. Asuncion Maderazo-Anden, director of the DOH’s National Center for Health Promotion, however, stressed that the Philippines has a “good surveillance system” so it was able to capture all cases.

This was also the reason given recently by WHO acting country representative Dr. Howard Sobel, who lauded the Philippines for having “excellent contact tracing.”

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III maintained that A(H1N1) is a “mild virus” from which many of the patients recover even before they are started on medication – two capsules daily of Oseltamivir for five days.

“Most can fight off the virus even without medication or hospitalization. If you have mild flu-like symptoms but you do not have any pre-existing medical condition, then there is no reason to be alarmed. Just stay at home and take plenty of fluids, vitamins and bed rest,” Duque said.

But the health chief advised those who are seriously ill and who have other illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma and those who are pregnant, aged 60 and above, below five and with weak immune system to consult their doctors.

Duque said the total count for A(H1N1) in the country had increased to 727 after 123 more individuals tested positive for the virus.

Of the 123 new cases, three are foreigners while 21 have history of travel in A(H1N1)-affected countries.

The youngest patient was aged six and the oldest, 59.

“The safest way to avoid contracting the flu is by observing thorough hand-washing and by covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. The best defense against A(H1N1) and other diseases is to boost your immune system,” he added.