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.

FINALLY! But not quite ... College and University Classes suspended for one week in the wake of increasing cases of H1N1.

GMA News has reported that today Saturday June 6, the CHED or Commission on Higher Education has moved the opening of classes in universities and colleges to June 15.

You can read more on the GMA news site here

While a lot of parents have welcomed this move by the CHED, what is puzzling is the inaction on the part of the Department of Education to adjust the resumption of classes to the same date.

It is most definitely not the nature of H1N1 to infect only those of college age, nor is travel abroad limited to those ages 17 and above.

Thus, this move is quite puzzling and bears close scrutiny particularly when infections spread to the elementary and high school level.

At least 29 students in Nueva Ecija being monitored for Influenza A H1N1

GMA News has reported that at least 29 students in Nueva Ecija are being monitored for H1N1.

You can read about it here

Further updates on this and other developments will be posted in this blog.

CNN Report - Thailand tourist's lung tissue 'gone' after mysterious death

Just a while back, two tourists died a mysterious death in Thailand and the pathology reports on one of the victims only deepens the mystery.

Read more about it on CNN here


For a background on the case read about here

UK School hit with 50 swine flu cases - from BBC

This is the worst fear of many parents and the health authorities here should read this article and rethink their position on school opening next week.

A Primary School in Birmingham has a swarm of 50 confirmed swine flu cases and this number is expected to rise.

Read more about on BBC here