Let us just hope that the A/H1N1 virus does not enter the country. Because if it does, how could we prevent its spread when 44 million Filipinos struggle to survive on P18 to P44 ($0.38 to $0.93) per day? How could we stop it from contaminating people when respiratory diseases are increasing and are among the top illnesses affecting the Filipino people, and the malnutrition situation in the country, as described by a UNICEF representative in 2006, is ‘devastating’? How could the people practice proper hygiene when families are cramped in small quarters in urban poor communities? How could Filipinos cope with the infection when, according to a October 2008 survey of IBON foundation 78 percent rated themselves as poor, 75 percent said they have difficulties buying food and 68 percent said they have difficulties buying medicines and paying for medical treatment?
BY BENJIE OLIVEROS
ANALYSIS
Bulatlat
The A/H1N1 virus is causing fear and panic throughout the world. The list of countries with confirmed cases, as of May 6, 2009, is alarming: Mexico 822 cases, US 403 cases, Canada 165 cases, Spain 57, UK – 27, Germany 9, six in New Zealand, five in Italy, four in Israel, two each in South Korea, El Salvador, and Guatemala, and one each in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, China Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Denmark, The Netherlands and Portugal.
There are suspected cases in Sweden, Greece, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Peru, and Australia.
The A/H1N1 virus is suspected to be the cause of 159 deaths in Mexico and one in the US. Mexican officials also estimate that it is the cause of 2,500 illnesses in the country. Alert level 5 has been raised by the World Health Organization because cases of human to human transmission have already been reported and that a global pandemic appears imminent.
The swine flu, as it is commonly called, appears to be a mutation of a mix of avian, swine, and human flu viruses. It is type A influenza, the most common type affecting mammals and birds. The H1 and N1 refer to two proteins – haemaglutanin and neuraminidase – that are present in the virus. While mutating, viruses could exchange genetic material to circumvent the immune responses of animals. Thus, the source is difficult to ascertain.
Advances in science could not yet prevent the mutation of viruses; it could only cope with it by developing medicines and immunization. However, the key is how to contain infections and how to deal with its virulence. A good health care system accessible to all could contain its spread and provide timely interventions to care for people who are infected.
In the Philippines the alarm against the potential spread of A/H1N1 virus has been raised. Five persons who exhibited similar symptoms were being tested as of May 6. Credit should be given to the quick response of the Department of Health (DoH), specifically the National Epidemiology Center. The chief of the center Dr. Eric Tayag has advised the public to wash their hands and to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, and to call the center’s hotlines if they exhibit flu-like symptoms. Dr. Tayag has also assured the public that the DoH has 70,000 stockpiles of Tamiflu capsules, as part of the health department’s preparations. Health Sec. Francisco Duque III went as far as asking the entourage of national boxing hero Manny Pacquiao to postpone their trip back home and to cancel the homecoming parade to make sure that they are not bringing the A/H1N1 virus into the country. Pacquiao ignored the advise and went home as scheduled.
Still, there are signs that people are panicking. News reports indicate that people have been buying Tamiflu capsules en masse causing shortages in drugstores. Dr.Tayag expressed fears that if people start taking Tamiflu capsules now, it would lose its potency if and when the A/H1N1 virus strikes the country.
