Posts Tagged ‘swine flu’

NO VIP Exempted To Thermal Scanner

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of Health, is serious on protecting the public against the A(N1H1) virus by being vigilant on prevent the entry of the deadly virus in the Philippines. NAIA terminals are already equipped with thermal scanners in 2003 during the peak of SARS scare.

Every passenger should pass through thermal scanner followed by a foot bath. They also have to fill out medical advisory forms as a standard procedure at NAIA. Although thermal scanner can only detect person’s high temperature (fever and/or flu), it might not be that accurate. What if the person just took his medicine just in time to have negative result in thermal scanner? Its a small possibility though. At least we have thermal scanners in the Philippines. If thermal scanner detects a positive passenger, temperature will be confirmed orally. And further test will be handled by designated hospitals in coordination with DOH.

Even President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her delegates pass through thermal tests when he came home from Syria and Egypt recently. In a way, this is to show that there’s no VIP will be exempted since the safety of the nation is at stake. How about Pacquiao? Lets wait and see tomorrow.

NAIA Chief Alfonso Cusi also ordered purchase 5 thermal scanners to boost its capability for scanning arriving and departing passengers. How about other airports and piers? Face masks for airport employees? They are exposed to possible virus, we can never tell.

NAIA is also temporarily suspending until further notice, the issuance of access passes to the public for the purpose of sending off and meeting passengers at the NAIA.

2 Cebu Patients Being Tested For N1H1

The thermal scanner in Mactan-Cebu International Airport detected a Filipino traveller had fever. He came from Ireland and had a stopover in HongKong with his wife. The fever was later confirmed by using oral thermometer. Hongkong already have its 1st N1H1 case and the 1st in Asia.

Meanwhile, a Caucasian female accompanied by her husband volunteered to be check for the said virus. They arrived last week from Mexico, the most number of affected by swine virus. Both patients stayed in separate isolation room in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for test.

Department of Heath Secretary told the media that that specimens will be brought to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila and result will be out within 72 hours or 3 days.

Let’s hope and pray that they are negative from N1H1 virus. They came from Hong Kong and Mexico, aren’t they using thermal scanners for departing passengers? Philippines should have additional scanners for departure areas to prevent the spread of the virus, including piers and other means of transportation.

3 Pinoys Quarantined in Hong Kong

I learned from this article that the 1st H1N1 case in Asia, a Mexican citizen was checked in first at the Metropark Hotel in Wanchai and was later brought to the Ruttonjee Hospital after experiencing coughs, sore throat, and other flu-like symptoms. After the patient result turned out positive for H1N1 virus, the 200 hotel guests were quarantined including 3 filipinos who are temporary visitors of Hong Kong. A filipina with her Australian husband, their son and a Cebuana. The quarantine will be finish by Friday.

The Hong Kong Government will shoulder all the hotel and airline tickets/rebooking charges. There no reports of additional case of the deadly virus in Hongkong. Just a thought… are these filipinos will be quarantine again when they come back home?

First H1N1 Swine Flu Case in Asia

It is confirmed that the dreaded disease is already had reached Asia. Hongkong Health Department and University of Hong Kong experts said that a Mexican citizen arrived in Thursday via Shanghai have fever. They’ve rushed him to the hospital and underwent series of test.

The patient is in isolated room in a hospital and in stable condition. I’m worried to OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) working in Hongkong.

Update: Swine Flu Outbreak On Phase 5

Everybody in the whole world are now careful to go to public places since World Health Organization (WHO) had increased the warning to phase 5, swine flu is now proven to be a deadly disease that many got affected in matter of days. Please see this link. The figures I saw in the google map are very alarming.

The Swine influenza phase 5 warning should make every country in the whole world make preparedness plans on avoiding the spread of the deadly disease. Philippines is among other countries that are using thermal scanners since the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2003. I believe that thermal scanners are not enough, since a person with flu and took medicine could lower the body’s temperature. I already saw some people wearing face masks in crowded places. I heard some people had stopped eating pork.

Until now, there is no available vaccine for the said disease, human influenza or flu vaccine is different. I hope the swine flu vaccine will be ready by May as stated here.