DOH stays alert as A(H1N1) shifts to post-pandemic stage

Philippine health authorities will remain vigilant amid the World Health Organization's declaration that the world is shifting to the post-pandemic period of A(H1N1), commonly known as swine flu. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona said they will continue early detection and surveillance activities for the disease, and head off possible local outbreaks. "With the shift toward the post-pandemic phase, let me assure everyone that the DOH will continue to monitor the situation and heed the advice of WHO to continue our early detection and surveillance activities and remain vigilant against the expected local outbreaks as part of the DOH Surveillance for influenza-like illnesses (ILI)," he said. "We shall also intensify our vaccination strategy in targeting our health workers and high-risk groups which include pregnant women, the very young and the elderly, the immuno-compromised and those with chronic conditions, i.e., asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), diabetes, cardiovascular disease," he added. Citing the official WHO announcement, Ona said the post-pandemic phase means the A(H1N1) virus has taken on a behavior and intensity similar to that of the regular seasonal flu viruses. It also means one should expect sustained community level transmission and localized outbreaks of A(H1N1) in the coming years. "In the country, similar to the rest of the world, all evidence indicates that the virus mostly causes mild symptoms that resolve even without antiviral treatment in the overwhelming majority of cases. There is also no indication of a change or mutation in the virus that would point to increased virulence or a change in the severity or character of the flu illness that it causes to patients," he said. Ona said the Philippines' experience in handling the A(H1N1) pandemic of 2009 showed the government's capacity to respond to this emerging challenge. This includes giving care to the minority of patients who may need treatment and care in our health facilities. As of July 2010, 49 percent of 11,904 specimens submitted to, and analyzed by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine tested positive for A(H1N1) 2009, he said. He said this is in contrast with the global situation described by the WHO as having a “mix of influenza viruses, typically seen during seasonal epidemics." Ona also noted the Philippine government's efforts on A(H1N1) received praise from the WHO "in terms of giving an adequate and efficient response; establishing effective collaboration between our government, the WHO and the international community; and in providing effective risk communication to the public since the beginning of the A (H1N1) pandemic." He encouraged health workers and citizens who belong to vulnerable groups to avail of the vaccines the government has been providing for free at local health facilities and DOH-managed hospitals since early this year. "I also call on our hospitals and frontline health care providers to continue the effective management of our local cases following the clinical guidelines that the DOH has issued in 2009," he added. — LBG, GMANews.TV