Taiwanese girl under observation in Aklan for H1N1 flu

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL / Panay News

KALIBO, Aklan - A 12-year old Taiwanese national was placed under observation at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH) after she developed possible symptoms of influenza A (H1N1) or swine flu.
Dr. Paul Macahilas, chief of hospital, said the patient had a fever when airport authorities brought her to DRSTMH.
"As a precautionary measure, the patient is under observation for influenza-like symptoms in the provincial hospital. A nasal or throat swabs sample from the patient will be send to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for laboratory testing," he said in a local radio station here.
RITM is the only authorized facility recognized by the World Health Organization to conduct confirmatory swine flu strain results. The specimen results are available in three to five days, Macahilas said.
Kalibo International Airport manager Engr. Percy Malonesio said the Taiwanese national who arrived on Friday here from Taipei via China Airlines, was accompanied by her Taiwanese parents and co-passenger interpreter for a vacation in Boracay Island.
"The airport medical workers remain on alert for the possible entry of passengers with H1N1 virus. We continue to monitor the arrival, especially inbound tourists from direct flights abroad, and work closely with the government officials in monitoring carriers of influenza A(H1N1), " he said.
Kalibo airport is serving the regional flights of Mandarin Airlines, TransAsia Airways and China Airlines and the domestic flights of Cebu Pacific, Philippines Airlines and Zest Airways.
Macahilas said hospital nurses and attendants are wearing their masks after reports broke out about the province's first suspected swine-flu patient was admitted in the provincial hospital.
"The foreigner was found suffering from fever and still under close monitoring for suspected viral infection," he added.
Meanwhile, the 49-year old staff member in the House of Representatives, who died on June 19, was the country's first fatality of the influenza A virus.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has urged the public to practice proper hygiene thorough handwashing and covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing amid the pandemic flu worldwide.
Nearly 60,000 cases in 113 countries and 263 were killed by swine flu, according to World Health Organization.