Tacloban City
The number of A(H1N1) positive cases in Eastern Visayas has reached the hundred mark, has affected about 19 schools in the Region and is about to drain the P1-Million funding of DOH. Department of Health Regional Director Edgardo Gonzaga informed the members of the local media during the special Tuesday episode of Harampang Ha PIA, that the number of A(H1N1) cases under observation, as of July 14, is now 256.
Of the 256 cases under observation, about 211 have undergone swab test and have already results while the results for the remaining 47 cases have not been received yet.
About 108 cases tested were negative while 103 have been confirmed to be positive, Director Gonzaga bared. All the 103 positive cases have already been given medications, most of them are now being cared in their own respective homes and only a few are at EVRMC and some other government and private hospitals.
Director Gonzaga added that 19 schools in Region 8 have been affected by the novel virus. Most of the schools are in Tacloban. Others are in Eastern Samar particularly Guiuan and Borongan; in Leyte, Samar and Northern Samar.
Clustering has been observed in several schools and the Department of Education, TESDA, CHED and the Department of Health and the various local government units concerned are now conducting monitoring, surveillance and evaluation.
There is already an outbreak or epidemic, Director Gonzaga said as he explained that there is an outbreak or epidemic if the disease has never been identified before and if there is an unusual increase in the number of cases.
The rising number of cases does not mean that the government is a failure but it only shows how effective the surveillance system in the Region is, Director Gonzaga said. Because the various sectors are aware, they report to DOH about such cases in their respective communities, the good director added.
There is already a community level transmission in Region 8 considering that about 80 percent of those affected are students in the elementary and highschool. However, there has been patients who are college students in medical school and one in a technical school.
“In fact the youngest case was 10 months old child from Mexico, who was brought home by his father right after medication,” Director Gonzaga informed. The oldest on the other hand, was in the late 50s, he added.
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