By Rey Anthony Chiu
Nothing on the health radar screen that should make Boholanos apprehensive about the dreaded influenza A H1N1, assured Dr. Greg Sodusta.
But for preparedness sake, local health authorities eye disease management trainings for rural health nurses and schools to arrest any eventuality of a disease infection spin-off, bares the assistant provincial health officer for Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot.
This is despite the continued efforts of the Department of Health to trace down persons who may have been in contact with the confirmed carriers in the country.
As of now, Bohol health authorities admit they are on the preparedness level just as Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital has opened its Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) isolation room for any reported swine flu case here, Dr. Sodusta bared.
On personnel, he said the Department of Health in Region 7 has updated its doctors in its rural health units on the management of infected cases.
We are planning, at our level to cascade the training the doctors had last week, to the rural health nurses and then to the schools which would be appropriate, we just await the funds, he said.
For Boholanos who may have come from affected countries and who noticed usual symptoms within the period of personal quarantine, the GCGMH can provide the necessary management, he added.
On Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque announced that DOH confirmed four new A/H1N1 cases raising the confirmed numbers to six.
The new cases are two females, aged 1 year old and 26 years old, and 2 males, aged 13 years old and 55 years old.
The infected children had history of traveling to Hongkong and the United States, which are known affected countries. The adults accordingly were exposed to a mother and daughter who tested positive upon their return to Taiwan.
Since there is continuous international travel and the number of affected countries continues to increase, the DOH has in place the pandemic preparedness and response plan and expanded its referral hospitals to all DOH Regional Hospitals and Medical Centers.
Over this too, Duque urged anyone who have traveled to affected countries or have been exposed to a confirmed case of Influenza A(H1N1) and have fever, cough, sore throat or other flu-like symptoms, to consult a health facility immediately.
The DOH Hotline is (02) 711-1001 or 711-1002. People in the Visayas may use the DOH Hotline (032) 418-7636 and (032) 255-1591 while those in Mindanao may use the DOH Hotline (082) 227-2731.
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