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Philippines remains swine flu free, chairs Asean+3 health summit on A(H1N1)

May 20, 2009 05:28

The Philippines, which thankfully still has no cases of influenza A(H1N1) a.k.a. swine flu after a baby suspected of being infected with the virus tested negative, is batting for greater regional cooperation to combat the potential pandemic.

Philippine health secretary Francisco Duque III chaired the Asean+3 summit on May 8 in Bangkok. This saw a turnout of health ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea.

Here's an excerpt from the Bangkok Post story on regional cooperation against the influenza A virus.

Health ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) plus China, Japan and South Korea have agreed on five measures to control the spread of the deadly A(H1N1) influenza virus, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said on Friday.

Mr Witthaya said preventive measures include the exchange of information concerning the influenza A outbreak, forming regional mobile units to inspect possible influenza A infection along their borders, and cooperation in laboratory virus testing.

Duque declared that the region was fully prepared to address the challenges posed by the influenza A virus.

"We would like to assure everyone that each Asean+3 member state has been vigilant in monitoring and addressing this threat. Each state is likewise continuously building capacities to prevent the entry of influenza A(H1N1) in the Asean+3 region," Duque was quoted as saying in the Mizzima.com article.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health has been proactive in preventing the entry of swine flu into the country, with Duque ordering on April 30 the "reactivation" of the action plan that the Philippine Government used in 2003 to successfully combat avian flu.

With millions of Filipinos overseas, the country's Department of Foreign Affairs has also tapped email and SMS brigades to disseminate information on the A(H1N1) virus.

Here's an excerpt from the GMAnews.tv article.

"(Philippine post in UK) requested the Filcom leaders to disseminate to as many Filipino nationals as possible through email/text blasts and announcements at church services and Filcom events the precautionary measures which Filipinos can undertake to protect themselves from the A(H1N1) virus," the DFA said in an update on its Web site (www.dfa.gov.ph).

Also, Philippine consular officials provided the officers of the Filipino community with the Post's advisory on A(H1N1) outbreak during a consular outreach mission and Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV) mobile registration in Southwest Wales.

As noted in this post by a Filipino tech blogger, another factor that has helped prevent the entry so far of the A(H1N1) virus into the country has been the deployment of thermal-imaging cameras in Philippine airports.

Here's a copy of the YouTube video from Al Jazeera cited in the blog post, which shows the measures the Philippines has been taking in response to the A(H1N1) virus.



So let's remember to keep ourselves informed about A(H1N1) and not panic--and pray that cooperation across the region and around the globe will prevent the spread of swine flu.

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