7, not 2 Navy men have H1N1 virus

Seven, not just two, Philippine Navy personnel, have Influenza A(H1N1) virus, according to the Philippine Navy. The seven are among the 23 Navy personnel who manifested flu-like symptoms, thirteen of whom are in the hospital.

RP’s A(H1N1) cases continue to go up; now number 861

Update 52

DUQUE: COUNTRY’S MILD A (H1N1) PATIENTS RESPONDING POSITIVELY TO TREATMENT

26 June 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today reported 134 more mild cases of A (H1N1), noting that all are responding positively to their treatments. These additional cases bring the total count of confirmed cases of the novel virus to 861.

123 more confirmed cases of A(H1N1) brings total to 727

Update 51

DUQUE: 85 MORE A (H1N1) PATIENTS HAVE FULLY RECOVERED

25 June 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today reported that 85 more A (H1N1) patients have fully recovered. This new number brings the total count of fully recovered cases to 536 or 74% of the total sum of reported confirmed mild cases since May 21.

Duque also disclosed that there are 123 more confirmed cases, all mild in nature, reported today. These new additional cases bring the total of confirmed cases to 727.

RP A(H1N1) cases jump to 604

DOH press release:

Update 50

DUQUE: 43 MORE A(H1N1) PATIENTS HAVE FULLY RECOVERED
24 June 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today reported that 43 more A(H1N1) confirmed (mild) cases have fully recovered, bringing the total of fully recovered patients to 464. This figure represents 77% of the total confirmed cases recorded since May 21.

Duque also said that there are 131 more confirmed cases, all mild in nature, reported today. These new additional cases bring the sum of confirmed A(H1N1) cases to 604.

Signal no.2 up in Metro Manila

No classes in elementary and high school in Metro Manila.
Typhoon signal no. 2 is now up over Metro Manila, and, in Luzon, in Masbate, Ticao Island, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Romblon, Burias Island, Southern Quezon, Mindoro, Lubang Island, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Bataan, and Rizal.
In a bulletin issued late Tuesday night, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Storm Feria has crossed Northern Samar and is moving west northwest towards Zambales. Check out the PAGASA website for the latest weather bulletin.

DOH admits “low level community outbreak” of A(H1N1) in Metro Manila

There is a “low level community outbreak” in some parts of Metro Manila, the health department said Tuesday, as it reported that there are now 473 cases of Influenza A(H1N1) in the country. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III however did not specify which areas in Metro Manila have a “low level community outbreak.”

The DOH had earlier said that Quezon City had the most number of cases in Metro Manila. Given the number of schools in Manila reporting cases of Influenza A(H1N1), however, those stats could well have changed.

There are probably cases of third generation transmission, the authorities said, adding that it would be hard to determine exactly which of the cases reported so far would be second or third generation.

They refused to say, however, that there is a community outbreak in the whole of Metro Manila, insisting that the numbers are low compared to the population and the number of schools in the metropolis.

Twenty-two schools have reported cases of Influenza A(H1N1), and the third generation transmission would probably be in some of those schools.

The rate of transmission, the health department said, is faster than health personnel can trace those who have been infected.

The MRT on a rainy day

When it rains, the best way to travel in Metro Manila is via the light rail train system: the MRT or the two LRTs. But, as this picture shows, “best way to travel” only means you’ll get there on time, but not necessarily dry.
If you look closely, you’ll see a woman holding a brown umbrella inside the MRT train, trying not to get wet, because the ceiling is dripping.

RP reports first death connected with Influenza A(H1N1)

A 49-year-old Filipina died Friday, on the third day of showing flu-like symptoms. The autopsy said she died of “congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction aggravated by severe pneumonia either bacterial, viral or both.”
A throat swab, however, revealed that she was also positive for Influenza A(H1N1).
The health department won’t directly attribute the death to A(H1N1) because she had a chronic heart disease. But it is advising those “with underlying medical conditions” to see a doctor once they develop flu-like symptoms — cough, cold, fever.
The woman did not travel to an affected country, or had contact with a person positive with A(H1N1). The DOH is still trying to figure out how she could have contracted the virus.

DOH update: Influenza A(H1N1) cases now at 428

Update 47

DUQUE: 79% OF ALL REPORTED A(H1N1) CASES HAVE FULLY RECOVERED
21 June 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today reported that 64 more A (H1N1) patients have fully recovered, now making the total sum of cases who fully recovered to 339. This number represents 79% of the total confirmed cases reported since May 21.

Duque also disclosed that there are 36 more confirmed A (H1N1) cases recorded today. These new additional cases bring the total number of (mild) confirmed cases to 428.

DOH stats on H1N1 in RP

On June 19, as the cases of Influenza A(H1N1) surged past 300, the health department made public the statistics they have so far on the H1N1 cases in the Philippines. Roughly one-third came from abroad, many of them Filipinos who went for a vacation in the US despite the DOH warning to put off unnecessary travel. Most of the recorded cases so far are in Metro Manila — and many of them were in Quezon City. All cases have so far been mild.