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H1N1 cases in RP hit 1,709; 1,485 recover

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 1,709 confirmed cases of Influenza A(H1N1) in the country as of June 27, but the good news is that 1,485 of them are now free of the virus. “The remaining 224 or 14 percent are still under treatment at present, most of them under home management,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a statement yesterday. The DOH, according to the health chief, is anticipating more cases in the coming months, so it would “institute...

DOH: Prepare for 2nd wave of flu

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday underscored the need to prepare for a second wave of the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic even if the virus presently appears to be mild in nature. Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, program manager of the DOH for emerging and re-emerging diseases, said that historically, all pandemics have had second waves that were deadlier. “It may not happen but there is a possibility of mutation. The virus may become more virulent then,” he said in an intervi...

H1N1 cases hit 861 as 25 kids test positive in Nasugbu, Batangas

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s total count for Influenza A(H1N1) infections rose to 861 yesterday after 134 new cases were reported, the Department of Health (DOH) said. Twenty-five children in Nasugbu, Batangas have tested positive for the virus. But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured the public that all of the new cases are “mild” and they “are responding positively to treatment.” The number of patients who have been cured, on the other hand, was placed at 634. Duque said ...

DOH eyes measures to bring down rising Tamiflu prices

MANILA, Philippines - Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said his department will coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to bring down prices of Tamiflu medicines to make them more affordable to people at "high risk" for Influenza A(H1N1). GMANews.TV reported yesterday that the prices of flu drugs and vaccinations had tripled in some places, leading to charges of price gouging in a time of crisis. In an interview over radio dzBB, Duque also sai...

Flu shuts down more schools

MANILA, Philippines – The A(H1N1) contagion forced the suspension of classes in more schools yesterday even as education officials told school authorities to find ways to make up for the disruption. In Metro Manila, the schools that moved to suspend classes for almost two weeks included the Poveda Learning Center at Ortigas Center in Pasig City and the Ateneo de Manila grade school in Quezon City. Classes in the two schools will resume on July 6. “They should make sure to hold Saturday m...