Phillipines: unexplained increasess in pneumonia cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/zam/2008/09/06/news/cho.pneumonia.cases.up.html

Saturday, September 06, 2008
CHO: Pneumonia cases up

THE City Health Office (CHO) is working closely with the Department of Health (DOH) regional office to determine the kind of virus causing the rapid increase of pneumonia cases in Zamboanga City.

CHO chief Dr. Rodel Agbulos said there is a sudden increase in pneumonia cases in Zamboanga City and that some of the patients particularly minors have died.

Agbulos said that last July, the number of pneumonia cases rose to 472, which is 160 percent higher compared to the same period of last year.

Agbulos said that although the number of cases for the month of August went down to 387, it is still considered alarming.

He said that his office' surveillance team has recorded a total of 1,834 pneumonia cases since January until August this year.

He added that his office is working closely with the DOH regional office in conducting laboratory examination to victims on "throat swab" to identify the virus that contributed to the sudden increase of pneumonia cases.

Agbulos also explained that pneumonia can be caused by different viruses, including those that cause upper respiratory infections such as the influenza virus, adenoviruses, and rhinoviruses. (Bong P. Garcia)

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: unexplained increasess in pneumonia cases

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/r...ia-kills-11-children-zambo-city-just-one-week

Severe pneumonia kills 11 children in Zambo city in just one week

By LEILA VICENTE, ABS-CBN Zamboanga | 09/25/2008 9:45 AM

ZAMBOANGA CITY- The city health office confirmed Wednesday that last week a total of eleven children ages below three years old were killed to due severe pneumonia.

Dr. Rodel Agbulos, city health officer, admitted the number of cases of pneumonia in Zamboanga City is already alarming. Since August and this month there has been a total of more than 300 persons who were admitted to different hospital in the city due to pneumonia.

Agbulos said that normally, their office only records up to 60 cases of pneumonia in a month.

The city health office has already sought the help of the main office of the Department of Health (DOH) to investigate.

Two doctors from the DOH from Manila arrived in Zamboanga City Tuesday and has started their investigation of the abrupt increase in pneumonia cases.

The two doctors would have to determine if the disease was caused by a bacteria or a virus and also to determine if the organisms which caused the disease is foreign or local.

Agbulos said his office is doing all possible measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Earlier, the city health office has reported of a certain 'strain virus' which infected some children deportees coming from Malaysia.


The city health office is looking into this possibility that some foreign organisms from neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have already penetrated the city.

as of 09/25/2008 9:45 AM