School: There are no cases of A(H1N1) among students

CEBU, Philippines - The school that was earlier reported to have cases under observation for the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, but refused to let the Department of Health in their campus to do swab tests, clarified that there was no such incident nor are there positive cases among their students.

Ric Ampiloquio, Executive Director for Paref Springdale Inc., assured that there are no positive cases in their school nor is it true that there are 42 students, who are inhibiting symptoms of the virus.

Meanwhile, the DOH-7 reported yesterday that there are five new confirmed cases of the virus bringing the number of confirmed cases in the region up to 37.

The new cases are a 30-year-old male from Las Piñas who came to Cebu, a 56-year-old male from Cebu, a five-year-old boy from Cebu, a 30-year-old woman from Cebu, and a 15-year-old male student from Cebu.

All have no history of travel outside the country and are already recovering.

Ampiloquio said that there were only 12 students, who showed symptoms of the flu, but it was not shown all-together and the students went to the school clinic in different dates from June 24 to July 2.

The school executive director said that the 42 that was reported in different media outfits was probably the total number of the patients they had in their clinic complaining of different health concerns.

Jhunard Conejos, the school nurse, explained that increase in the number of students going to their clinic is normal during the months of June and July since it is the season for the flu due to the weather.

He said that in June of 2008 alone, there were 234 different medical cases reported to their clinic.

Conejos said that this shows that the increase in the students showing symptoms of the flu this June and July does not mean that it is because of the A(H1N1) virus.

Further, Ampiloquio said that the 12 students were advised not to come to class while they were still sick, but he said that they cannot also stop parents, who want their children checked by private hospitals.

The Department of Health earlier said that they will be looking in to the reports that a private hospital was doing PCR tests, which should not be done because according to DOH.

The only laboratory in Central Visayas to do such test to check for influenza A is the one accredited by the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine and the World Health Organization, which is found inside the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center compound.

Ampiloquio said that after they knew that they had students with the symptoms, they immediately called DOH.

The school nurse said that he was the one who called DOH and informed them of the matter. But when he was told that they needed to go to the school to make swab tests, he said that he still needed to check with the school administrator, who also needed to call the parents of the students.

Ampiloquio explained that they needed to inform the parents first since they are a private school.

He said that this may be the reason why there were reports that they refused to let DOH in their school.

The school head also said that they are aware of the guidelines and the proper protocol and the measures to be done to help prevent the spread of the virus.

He said that they even moved the opening of the classes from June 8 to June 15 since there are a number of their students who traveled to different places during the school break.

Ampiloquio also said that they have taken extra measures like turning off the air conditioners to prevent spread of any virus and also disinfecting their classrooms.

The school is also doing measures against dengue through fogging.

He said that parents have been calling his office after hearing of the news and he has assured them that they are doing their best to take the measures that need to be done.

According to Ampiloquio, only one student was confined into a private hospital by his parents due to fever, but he is already doing good as well as the other 12 who are also recovering.   

Ampiloquio however said that they still will be waiting for the recommendation of DOH if they need to suspend classes.

Renan Cimafranca, head of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, who visited the school yesterday, said that there has been a change in the policy on the suspension of classes and it is not necessary anymore.

He explained that instead of calling for a suspension, the students who are infected or with the symptoms will be asked to stay home until they get well.

Cimafranca said that they will only be allowed to return to school provided they have a medical certificate stating they are already in good health.

According to Cimafranca, the mistake in the reports probably resulted from a miscommunication, but they will make sure that it will not happen again.

In fact, Cimafranca said that they will be having another orientation for the schools so that the guidelines as to what to do would be discussed again.

He said that schools really are advised to call DOH immediately and report if they have students with the symptoms and does not actually need to ask permission from the parents since it is an urgent matter that needs to be attended to.

Cimafranca also said that they will be having another separate meeting with the hospitals and remind them of the guidelines as well.

As for the 12 students, Cimafranca said that they have already taken swab samples from three and will be waiting for the results.

Meanwhile, Dr. Cora Lou Kintar, spokesperson for DOH 7 reminded that all information should go through their office.

She said that Dr. Angelita Salarda, head of DOH 7 health and regulations division to go to the hospitals to remind them of the guidelines.

Also, she said that they will be hiring a team to take swabs because of the increase in requests for swab tests that they are getting. —AJ de la Torre/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)