DOH prepared for Avian flu

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque assured the public that the Department of Health in coordination with the Department of Agriculture is ready to meet all contingencies related to Avian Flu which has afflicted a lot of countries.

The Secretary revealed that so far in five countries there have  been  54 deaths out of  100 confirmed cases. And all new cases in 2005 have been found  in Vietnam and Cambodia. In Cambodia, the case fatality rate  has been 100%, so, 4  deaths out of 4 cases. In  fact, in Cambodia, Duque said has  been really extremely severe in so far as the deaths  are concerned.

Secretary Duque said there three possible ways by which the Avian infuenza could infect humans.  First is by direct infection, through  contact, handling or inhalation  of respiratory discharges or of feces of infected birds. The second is through passage in an intermediate host without recombination, without re-assortment or without mutation. The third is through an intermediate host, but this time with the re-assortment of the virus.

If this happens, the DOH in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, will do contact tracing or identify individuals at risks.  These may include poultry handlers, workers, people in live chicken sale, aviary workers, ornithologists or people living near poultry farms or any individual with close contact with infected birds.

Government hospitals, Duque said are ready.  Victims could be sent to satellite referral hospitals,  Regional hospitals and medical centers in 16 regions, sub-national referral centers, San Lazaro hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Vicente Sotto in  Visayas and Davao Medical Center in Mindanao. They may also be referred to the   national referral hospital, the RITM or Research  Institute for  Tropical Medicine.

Duque said they also intend to activate the response and preparatory measures just like what they did with SARs two years ago. (PIA6)