No More Additional Thermal Scanners – DOH

I’m glad that Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque had shift from acquiring more thermal scanners to contact tracing of A(H1N1) cases.

If you use thermal scanning, you use so many personnel to man the scanning machines. What we need now are personnel for contact tracing. It would be better to have these people out in the field doing contact tracing instead of standing at the airport and manning thermal scanners that may not detect A(H1N1) if the virus is still incubating. – DOH Secretary Duque

For the record, Philippines already have the 2nd case of AH1N1 virus, a 50 year old female who arrived in the Philippines on May 20 from the USA and sought consult in a health facility a day after arrival, May 21. RITM confirmed that the patient is positive of Influenza A (H1N1). She only has mild symptoms. Another case that proved that thermal scanners were useless and just a waste of our money. Secretary Duque after representing Philippines in the recent 62nd World Health Assembly in Geneva said that Europe doesn’t use the said technology.

As of this time, DOH is monitoring and waiting for the result of 7 new cases. On June 1, most school will resume classes. I was at my kids’ school this morning and learned that the first day of school was moved from June 1 to June 4, Thursday. Just like other parents, I’m still worried. I hope DepEd reschedule the school opening until everything is stable.