Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.bworldonline.com/BW062909/content.php?id=072
Monday, June 29, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Nation
Health dep?t to issue weekly A(H1N1) morbidity updates
DAILY UPDATES of confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) will soon be a thing of the past.
The Department of Health (DoH) said in a text message over the weekend that the department would no longer give daily updates.
"We are shifting to weekly morbidity update starting this week," it said.
The DoH said that the shift is to provide more detailed information on the spread of the virus in the country such as the concentration of the cases in a certain area.
Morbidity updates are already done with diseases like dengue.
Guidelines for the treatment of patients infected with the virus at home have also been released by the department.
"Due to the increasing number of cases of A (H1N1) virus infections reported in the country and the upsurge of consultations in health care facilities, it will be necessary to triage patients for treatment to maximize the impact of the available treatment capacity," the DoH said in a statement.
The guidelines state that patients who do not exhibit pulmonary complications and are not suffering from any chronic illnesses may be treated in outpatient care.
For patients being treated at home, the DoH said that families must:
* Separate the ill from others at home until symptoms subside. If not possible, the patient must be provided with a surgical mask.
* Drinking glasses and other utensils used for eating by the patient must be thoroughly washed before being used by someone else.
* Caregivers should always wash hands after patient contact.
* Patients may be discharged after the antiviral treatment is completed.
The DoH also said that close contacts of the patient do not need to be given antivirals but are advised to self-monitor. A repeat test for the virus is also unnecessary.
The home care guidelines are part of the DoH?s mitigation strategies for the virus.
Confirmed cases in the country number at 861 since May 21, with 634 fully recovered and released. Only one A (H1N1)-related death has been recorded.
The Philippines currently has the third highest number of A (H1N1) cases in the Western Pacific region of the World Health Organization (WHO), coming behind Australia and China.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque has said that the high numbers are due to "the aggressive reporting and contact tracing being done by the country."
The WHO said that there are 59,814 confirmed cases of A (H1N1), with 263 deaths, in 102 countries. ? Emilia Narni J. David
Monday, June 29, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Nation
Health dep?t to issue weekly A(H1N1) morbidity updates
DAILY UPDATES of confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) will soon be a thing of the past.
The Department of Health (DoH) said in a text message over the weekend that the department would no longer give daily updates.
"We are shifting to weekly morbidity update starting this week," it said.
The DoH said that the shift is to provide more detailed information on the spread of the virus in the country such as the concentration of the cases in a certain area.
Morbidity updates are already done with diseases like dengue.
Guidelines for the treatment of patients infected with the virus at home have also been released by the department.
"Due to the increasing number of cases of A (H1N1) virus infections reported in the country and the upsurge of consultations in health care facilities, it will be necessary to triage patients for treatment to maximize the impact of the available treatment capacity," the DoH said in a statement.
The guidelines state that patients who do not exhibit pulmonary complications and are not suffering from any chronic illnesses may be treated in outpatient care.
For patients being treated at home, the DoH said that families must:
* Separate the ill from others at home until symptoms subside. If not possible, the patient must be provided with a surgical mask.
* Drinking glasses and other utensils used for eating by the patient must be thoroughly washed before being used by someone else.
* Caregivers should always wash hands after patient contact.
* Patients may be discharged after the antiviral treatment is completed.
The DoH also said that close contacts of the patient do not need to be given antivirals but are advised to self-monitor. A repeat test for the virus is also unnecessary.
The home care guidelines are part of the DoH?s mitigation strategies for the virus.
Confirmed cases in the country number at 861 since May 21, with 634 fully recovered and released. Only one A (H1N1)-related death has been recorded.
The Philippines currently has the third highest number of A (H1N1) cases in the Western Pacific region of the World Health Organization (WHO), coming behind Australia and China.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque has said that the high numbers are due to "the aggressive reporting and contact tracing being done by the country."
The WHO said that there are 59,814 confirmed cases of A (H1N1), with 263 deaths, in 102 countries. ? Emilia Narni J. David