‘Containment’ on as order out for health personnel to trace seaman’s contacts
“Containment” efforts are expected to be intensified now throughout Iloilo City particularly in the Jaro District where the city’s first A(H1N1) positive victim resides.
Though now confined in a confidential wing of the West Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao District, at least five family members of the 38 year-old returning seaman were also placed under tight watch. The victim’s wife is foremost in the “observation” list though no details were gathered on the four other family members. What is not clear though is whether the family members opted for a self-quarantine or hospital-based monitoring and supervision.
The News Today (TNT) in a follow-up learned that the said Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) arrived in Iloilo first week of May. He apparently experienced flu-like symptoms within days and underwent medical check-up thereafter.
Health officials here confirmed yesterday the positive results of A(H1N1) tests made on the seaman. As such, the City Health Office (CHO), as tasked, immediately started to make the rounds with specific orders to do the “contact tracing.”
Dr. Glen Alonsabe of the DOH – Center for Health Development in Western Visayas told TNT that among those to be verified are activities and places that the subject OFW got exposed upon arrival.
It was not also stated, Dr. Alonsabe said, if the 38 year-old seaman had pre-existing medical conditions though his A(H1N1) symptoms are “very mild.”
“We just have to be more careful now in order to prevent community transmission… we are on the “containment” process… we are involving our barangay officials, the local government units because DOH alone cannot do everything,” he explained.
Yet is there reason to sound off the “alarm” in Iloilo with the first confirmed case here?
“The alarm has been sounded off way back… what we can just do now is to really prevent further spread...,” Dr. Alonsabe stressed.
Meantime, TNT in a report learned that one of the city’s exclusive schools broke the news to the entire student body. Precautions were sounded off to the students particularly on ensuring protection when in public places.