Comment posted on ABS-CBN News before the opening of classes

Before the opening of classes on June 4, the blog author posted a comment on the Abs-Cbn news website.

What follows is the full text of the comment:


There is a news story on BBC about 50 cases of infection in a Primary School in Birmingham England. I'm wondering if the government is waiting for such an event to happen before postponing class opening? For interested parties, the link is http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8067907.stm

I feel that the most prudent thing to do is to go along with the proposal of the Head of the Chinese General Hospital to postpone opening for 1 month. It may appear to be drastic and most of the opinions revolve around the fact that its just a mild virus.

Well that’s the misconception and if people would only read more about it particularly on the WHO website, they will see that the danger of this virus lies in two things:

1. The fact that it is a mutation of the Influenza A virus with swine and bird flu components which lead to its being passed along easily and quickly BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ANTIBODIES for this!

2. The other thing is the deadly part, the virus mutation occurs when the gene is passed along from person to person. The WHO itself has PUBLICLY stated that this mutation is likely and will be DEADLY. This mutation is accelerated through person to person infection. Imagine the repercussions of an single infected person attending the overcrowded and highly populated Payatas school which was featured in the news last night? Thus any move on each persons part to help slow the spead of the virus will be a big help in preventing or at least delaying the mutation.

We in the Philippines have the sorry distinction of being in the forefront of another gene variation, the EBOLA-RESTON virus. This is a mild form of the EBOLA virus which also affects SWINE.

On my part, I am praying for our sake that this H1N1 does not decide to unite with Ebola Reston to produce God knows what kind of virus. If the government does not take decisive action I fear that we may unwittingly serve to be the breeding ground for a virus that just might wipe out millions again.

The logistics of delaying classes is so simple compared to the nightmare of containing an infection which spread rapidly while waiting for what the DOH calls "COMMUNITY LEVEL INFECTION" It is my sincere hope that the government can be prevailed upon by these facts to declare the suspension of class opening to PREVENT and not wait for the so-called "COMMUNITY LEVEL INFECTION" at which point it will be too late.

Ateneo De Manila orders suspension of High School classes for 10 days due to 3 confirmed H1N1 cases

One of the premier educational institutions has suspended classes in the High School and Grade School due to 3 confirmed H1N1 cases in the High School

The official bulletin of the Ateneo High School is here

The Ateneo Grade School Bulletin can be found here

As mentioned in the earlier post, the moves of the Department of Health and the Department of Education should be watched closely. The various schools in the Philippines, at least on the Elementary and High School levels, have been doing on their own what the government should have been doing.

Well no matter what the various officials in the government say, their respective roles are quite clear and the proverbial buck stops with them. This is a very sobering look at how prepared the different officials are in handling a crisis. It seems that politics take precedence over public safety.