Valenzuela monitoring bar-hopping flu patient's classmates

MANILA, Philippines - The Valenzuela City health department is closely monitoring the classmates of a Filipino-Malaysian student who went bar-hopping and attending classes while still infected with the A(H1N1) flu virus.

Dr. Jaime Exconde, the city health officer, said yesterday Mayor Sherwin Gathalian instructed him to “personally maintain” close coordination with officials of the patient’s school in implementing measures to prevent new flu cases in the campus.

“We are closely monitoring the school, and the other private schools and colleges in the city. So far, no new cases have been reported,” Exconde told The STAR.

He said task force A(H1N1) members and the city health’s flu surveillance units were deployed in the city’s 32 barangays.

The 20-year old student, who studies hotel and restaurant management at a local college, arrived from Malaysia on June 6 and was confirmed infected with the flu virus last June 18.

City officials called the student “socially irresponsible” after he admitted playing basketball with friends, bar-hopping in Quezon City, and attending classes while not yet officially cleared of the infection.

City health personnel also said the student reportedly gave a false address, contact number and date of arrival.

The patient, who has already recovered, was traced only last week while attending his classes – two weeks after his A(H1N1) test results came out positive.

The Valenzuela City government is considering a lawsuit against the student for “recklessly” misleading authorities and for neglecting his “social responsibility” in not spreading the virus.