Influenza A H1N1 in the Philippines

Ang kompirmadong may H1N1 influenza A ay ang taong nagpositibo sa H1N1 influenzaA virus sa pamamagitan ng Polymerase Chain Reaction o pagpapadami ng virus sa laboratory hanggang ito ay matukoy na H1N1.

May suspetsa lamang kung ang tao ay may lagnat, sipon, ubo, pangangati ng lalamunan at kompirmadong pakikisalamuha sa may sakit ng H1N1 influenza A.

Mga High risk groups o possibleng madaling mahawaan ng A H1N1 virus at possibleng magkaroon ng komplikasyon:

• Bata limang (5) taong gulang pababa

• Matanda Sixty-five (65) taong gulang pataas

• Nineteen-years (19) taong gulang pababa na umiinom ng aspirin

at mga pasyente na may matagal ng sakit o chronic disease gaya ng hika, copd, sakit sa puso, kanser, diabetes, sakit sa dugo at malnourished na bata.

Paano nakakahawa: nakukuha ito sa pagkakaroon ng contact sa respiratory droplets o bodily fluids mula sa may sakit gaya ng kissing, embracing, paglanghap ng bahing, paghawak sa droplet papunta sa bibig o ilong, at parehong paggamit ng kubyertos. Hindi kasama dito ang paglakad o pag-upo ng malapit sa may sakit.

Isolation o social distancing — Ang self isolation ay ang pagkukulong sa kuwarto na nakasarado ang pintuan kung nakaramdam ng sintomas. Gagawin ito sa pitong araw o 24hrs mula nang nawala ang mga sintomas ng sakit. Kung kailangan umalis, magsuot ng face mask or N95 Respirator. Panatilihin din ang wastong paghugas ng kamay.

Face masks and respirators — Ang paggamit ng face mask o N95 respirator ay hindi kinakailangan kung hindi naman high risk. Gagamitin lamang ito sa mga mataong lugar o
may close contact sa mga mataong lugar na may possibleng H1N1 infection. Hanggat
maaari ay lumayo ng >6 feet mula sa may sakit. Kung hindi maiwasan, kailangan magsuot ng face mask or N95 respirator.

Bakuna: Ayun sa pagsusuri, maaaring meron o walang cross-protection ang ibang flu vaccine laban sa H1N1 Influenza A.

Sources:World Health Organization at Center for Disease Control, 2009

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Ebola Virus hits Philippine Hogs

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal disease in humans, monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees.

There are five identified subtypes of Ebola virus namely: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast, Ebola-Bundibugyo and the fifth which is Ebola-Reston. The first four caused disease in humans. Ebola-Reston has so far caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.

Fortunately, Ebola-Reston was the subtype isolated from the Philippine hogs. The virus unexpectedly jumped from the monkeys to the hogs which can possibly transmit the virus to humans. The virus is transmitted through blood and other body secretions or fluids.

"Is it mutating? We don’t know but we have to keep an eye on its possible transfer to humans and its implications", according to Peter Cordingley, WHO speaker. WHO remains concerned about the jump from the macques to the hogs.

Tests were conducted in May, June and September of 2008.The Department of Agriculture and its agencies led by the Bureau of Animal Industry accidentally discovered the virus while investigating the previous outbreak of the porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome which had badly affected the local hog industry last year.

Infected hogs displayed flu like symptoms. The physical make-up of hogs is closest to that of humans, making hogs an ideal breeding ground for viruses to jump from animals to humans.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Philippine Star, December 21, 2008A-19

COPYRIGHT @ PHILIPPINE-HEALTHNET thru Dr. Jason Abello

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