The Department of Health is not keen on declaring a community outbreak despite almost daily confirmations of new A(H1N1) infections (now 33) in the country. “As yet, there is no community-level outbreak of A(H1N1) as the Department of Health and local government units have been able to contain (the spread of the virus),” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in a press conference Friday. Four more people were confirmed infected Friday with the novel virus, raising to 33 the total number of infections. Duque said the new cases are two siblings (ages 9 and 11), another student of De La Salle University (third case in the school), and one who arrived in the country last Monday. As people scramble to get tested for the virus as the “first indication” appears, Doque said only those who would qualify as case under observation (CUO) would be tested and would receive treatment for free. Since May 1, the DOH has recorded 450 possible cases of the novel virus, of which 33 are confirmed infected, 76 are awaiting laboratory tests results, while 341 people have been discharged. As of 5 June, 36 new cases are under observation, Duque said. In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV earlier in the day, Dr. Eric Tayag of the Health department's National Epidemiology Center said 14 of those originally infected with the virus have been cured and discharged from hospitals. Even though the rest of those infected with the virus are responding well to treatment, Tayag said the public must continue to take precautionary measures against the malady, which has already afflicted more than 19, 000 people in 66 countries. Those infected had shown “mild” symptoms, Tayag said, adding that the public could do best by observing good personal hygiene and to report possible indications of the disease to Health authorities.
