Bacolod taps 500 health workers to monitor A(H1N1) flu

MANILA, Philippines – Some 500 barangay health workers and volunteers in Bacolod City have been tapped to monitor villages for people returning from abroad who may be infected with the A(H1N1) virus. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered those with symptoms of the disease isolated and reported to the city health office, according to a report posted on Saturday on the online news site Visayan Daily Star (www.visayandailystar.com). Those with symptoms will be brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Memorial Hospital where the Department of Health will designate an area for cases of A(H1N1) influenza. Health workers will distribute flyers of advisories on the A(H1N1) virus. "We don’t want to cause panic, but we want to establish concern among the people," Leonardia said. Leonardia, who went to the United States to watch the bout of ring icon Manny Pacquiao, said he would willingly undergo self-quarantine if needed. But he insisted he did not see any precautionary measures at the airport in Los Angeles, or even at the domestic airport in Manila. City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said there was nothing to be scared about, and Biñas was on top of the situation. Acconding to Sayson, vaccines are available from the budget of the CHO for emergency cases and training was held Thursday on how to conduct tests on persons suspected to be infected with the virus. Dr. Sebastian Tabuga, city quarantine officer, will also coordinate with Biñas in monitoring all international vessels docking at the BREDCO port. - GMANews.TV