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4th swine flu death in RP
By JONATHAN M. HICAP, ELLSON QUISMORIO
July 17, 2009, 5:22pm
A female public school teacher in Muntinlupa City died of influenza A(H1N1) on July 15, a Muntinlupa health official said Friday.
The teacher is the fourth case of A(H1N1) death in the country.
Dr. Edilinda Patac, Muntinlupa City health officer, said the 43-year-old patient was confined in a public hospital on July 12 and died at 4:45 a.m. last Wednesday. The patient vomited and had pneumonia, diarrhea, and fever before she was hospitalized.
The patient succumbed to septic shock and community-acquired pneumonia. It was also found out that the victim was diagnosed with brain tumor in 2005. It was not clear if this was also related to her death.
Mayor Aldrin San Pedro immediately ordered city health personnel to trace people who had close contact with the victim.
A child of the victim and two nephews who have been living with them were brought to a hospital for swab test after they showed flu-like symptoms. The child had sore throat while the other two had cold.
The victim?s 70-year-old mother was immediately given anti-viral drug oseltamivir as preventive measure.
Mayor San Pedro assured residents that the city government has enough medicine for A(H1N1). The mayor said he released funds when the country reported its first A(H1N1) months ago.
?We are prepared for anything related to A(H1N1),? he said. Dr. Patac said she was able to talk to the school principal to know the teacher?s condition before her death. It was found out that the teacher held classes until Thursday last week.
As preventive measure, the city government started disinfecting the entire school Friday that will last until Sunday to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the school will not be shut down and classes will resume on Monday.
Dr. Patac said all people in school and at home who had contact with the victim will be observed for symptoms of A(H1N1). She said oseltamivir will be immediately given to high-risk people who had contact with the teacher. These include those who are 65 years old and above, five years old and below, pregnant, and those afflicted with illnesses including asthma and other chronic pulmonary diseases.
Hospital personnel who also had direct contact with the patient will be observed and those who belong to the high-risk group will be given the anti-viral drug as prophylactic or preventive treatment.
Mayor San Pedro said the city has been prepared since the first case of A(H1N1) was reported in the country. He said surveillance teams have been monitoring communities and schools to find out if there are people who have flu-like symptoms.
San Pedro appealed to residents, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions, to immediately seek medical checkup and treatment if they show flu-like symptoms.