DOH gets ready for swine flu, orders ‘reactivation’ of avian flu template

MANILA, Philippines — The government is racing against time as the deadly swine influenza that is suspected to have killed at least 148 people in Mexico and infected close to 2,500 in the Americas was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one step away from being pandemic. As part of contingency measures, Health Secretary Franciso Duque III ordered the "reactivation" of the action plan undertaken by the government against the Avian flu outbreak in 2003. The WHO on Wednesday raised its flu alert to phase five signaling that a pandemic was "imminent" following the Mexican swine flu outbreak. A pandemic is defined by the Wikipedia as “an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide." The latest WHO report said that in addition to Mexico and the United States, nine other countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths. These are: Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5). Duque said the government already has a stockpile of 600,000 Tamiflu to treat Mexican swine flu infected patients and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the purchase of more antiviral medicine that would amount to P10 million. A Health Management Emergency Task Force has also been created where the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the police will join the DOH in ensuring peace and order amid the situation. The military and the police would be in charge of medicine distribution, Duque added. In a press conference, Duque echoed a WHO advisory saying there is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. He said individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV