15-year old stude negative of A(H1N1) virus
ROXAS CITY – The other patient here who showed symptoms of influenza A(H1N1) turned negative of the virus. This was confirmed by the result of the swab test conducted by the research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila on the patient's specimen.
The patient, a 15-year old student from a well-known school, arrived from Japan last June 14 and started having fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and headache on June 16.
The announcement of RITM's laboratory result was made by provincial administrator Zoe Herrera yesterday.
Last week a 38 year-old Capizeña, who works as domestic helper in Singapore, was confirmed to have been infected by the A(H1N1) virus.
Dr. Jarvis Punzalan, Provincial Health Officer (PHO), said in a press conference that the A(H1N1) positive person is a native of Tapaz, Capiz.
Punzalan said the said patient, whose name is withheld, arrived in Manila from Singapore on June 6 and she stayed there for several days. She went home on June 9 and manifested with simple flu and reported to the Rural Health Unit in Tapaz on June 11 where the doctor took the swab sample from her.
Punzalan said that the patient is undergoing 10 days home quarantine and is now recovering from her illness after medication.
Earlier, Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr., said that he will issue an executive order to all municipal mayors and barangay chief executives detailing the guidelines on how to handle the situation and to be prepared particularly in rural areas.
Tanco urged the people to stay calm and take precautionary measures to avoid being infected with the illness as he assured that the situation is under control since A(H1N1) flu is curable.