http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=49017
H1N1 deaths rising ? health officials
Three people in the Cordillera Region and a Filipino overseas worker in Hong Kong died recently due to complications related to the dreaded Influenza A (H1N1) virus as the number of confirmed cases continue to increase.
Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, CHD-CAR regional director, said the three swine flu-related deaths in the region were a 25-year-old pregnant mother who gave birth to twins, a 10-day-old baby who suffered from respiratory distress, and a 17-year-old student.
The health official reported that there are five individuals who were confirmed to have been infected with the swine flu virus. Health workers in health facilities are closely monitoring their condition.
Records showed that there are already 137 confirmed cases of H1N1 in the region since May 22, with Baguio City having 114 cases followed by Benguet with 11; Abra, Mountain province, Kalinga and Ifugao with three cases each.
Cabotaje revealed that 90 percent of the confirmed cases or 114 individuals have already recovered from the virus.
In a related development, the Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed yesterday that an overseas Filipino worker in Hong Kong, who was afflicted with severe pneumonia and swine flu, had passed away.
Overseas Workers? Welfare Administration chief Carmelita Dimzon, said 37-year-old Dolores Peralta Bauzon from Tarlac died at 5:47 p.m. Monday at the United Christian Hospital in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong said it will be arranging the speedy repatriation of the Filipina?s remains.
In Cebu, a total of 95 people, mostly students, from nine towns in Leyte have tested positive for the virus.
Leyte Provincial Health Officer Edgard Daya said patients with confirmed flu virus come from the towns of Baybay, Palo, Sta. Fe, San Miguel, Carigara, Barugo, Lapaz, Hilongos, and MacArthur
Barangay Guadalupe in Baybay has already been placed under a state of calamity after nine elementary school pupils were found positive for the virus, said Daya.
Meanwhile, health officials trying to make best use of antiviral drugs to fight the new H1N1 flu need to do a better job of tracking and treating cases quickly, Italian researchers said on Monday.
Having stockpiles of drugs does little good if people do not get them within the 24 to 48 hour window when they work best, Stefano Merler of the the Bruno Kessler Foundation in Trento, Italy and colleagues reported.
"Our study also highlights the importance of the early detection of cases,?? they wrote in the BioMed Central journal BMC Infectious Diseases.
"In fact, great effort should be made in order to establish a surveillance system able to detect and treat cases as soon as possible since a delay of more than 24 hours could make both antiviral treatment and prophylaxis very inefficient.?? (Dexter See, Madel Sabater, Jean Fernando, Mars Mosqueda Jr. & Reuters)
H1N1 deaths rising ? health officials
Three people in the Cordillera Region and a Filipino overseas worker in Hong Kong died recently due to complications related to the dreaded Influenza A (H1N1) virus as the number of confirmed cases continue to increase.
Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, CHD-CAR regional director, said the three swine flu-related deaths in the region were a 25-year-old pregnant mother who gave birth to twins, a 10-day-old baby who suffered from respiratory distress, and a 17-year-old student.
The health official reported that there are five individuals who were confirmed to have been infected with the swine flu virus. Health workers in health facilities are closely monitoring their condition.
Records showed that there are already 137 confirmed cases of H1N1 in the region since May 22, with Baguio City having 114 cases followed by Benguet with 11; Abra, Mountain province, Kalinga and Ifugao with three cases each.
Cabotaje revealed that 90 percent of the confirmed cases or 114 individuals have already recovered from the virus.
In a related development, the Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed yesterday that an overseas Filipino worker in Hong Kong, who was afflicted with severe pneumonia and swine flu, had passed away.
Overseas Workers? Welfare Administration chief Carmelita Dimzon, said 37-year-old Dolores Peralta Bauzon from Tarlac died at 5:47 p.m. Monday at the United Christian Hospital in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong said it will be arranging the speedy repatriation of the Filipina?s remains.
In Cebu, a total of 95 people, mostly students, from nine towns in Leyte have tested positive for the virus.
Leyte Provincial Health Officer Edgard Daya said patients with confirmed flu virus come from the towns of Baybay, Palo, Sta. Fe, San Miguel, Carigara, Barugo, Lapaz, Hilongos, and MacArthur
Barangay Guadalupe in Baybay has already been placed under a state of calamity after nine elementary school pupils were found positive for the virus, said Daya.
Meanwhile, health officials trying to make best use of antiviral drugs to fight the new H1N1 flu need to do a better job of tracking and treating cases quickly, Italian researchers said on Monday.
Having stockpiles of drugs does little good if people do not get them within the 24 to 48 hour window when they work best, Stefano Merler of the the Bruno Kessler Foundation in Trento, Italy and colleagues reported.
"Our study also highlights the importance of the early detection of cases,?? they wrote in the BioMed Central journal BMC Infectious Diseases.
"In fact, great effort should be made in order to establish a surveillance system able to detect and treat cases as soon as possible since a delay of more than 24 hours could make both antiviral treatment and prophylaxis very inefficient.?? (Dexter See, Madel Sabater, Jean Fernando, Mars Mosqueda Jr. & Reuters)