Flu downs 4,000 in Valenzuela

MANILA, Philippines - The Valenzuela City health department reported that acute pulmonary tract infection or “a simple flu” has affected at least 4,000 residents since January.

Dr. Jaime Exconde, in a report, said that as of Feb. 24, the city health department has treated 4,413 patients in various health centers.

He downplayed the report, saying that acute pulmonary tract infection is a regular occurrence during summer.

“It’s just a simple flu virus,” Exconde said.

Residents said the fever, particularly in children, lasts for days even with treatment. At Barangay Ugong, health workers said an average of 30 to 50 patients go to the health center every day. Some residents said this could go higher in the next two months.

Barangay Ugong chairman Vitaliano Lota confirmed reports of a flu outbreak in his barangay.

“We have no actual number of affected residents but we are conducting a massive information drive to convince residents to go to the barangay health center for medical treatment,” he told The STAR.

Other barangays are also affected by the flu, described as “acute pulmonary illness” in their records. Barangay Marulas reported that more than 400 residents were treated for the illness as of yesteday.

Barangay Malinta had 347 residents downed by the flu, followed by Barangay Gen. T. de Leon, with 327 residents.

There were no reported fatalties but Lota said the heat may have contributed to the outbreak of the disease.

But some residents interviewed by The STAR blamed the illness on fumes from factories, recycling plants and piggeries in the area.

Datas from the city’s environment department showed that there are about 1,700 factories operating in Valenzuela, mostly involved in recycling plastic materials and other industries.

A bunker oil processing plant in Ugong recently stopped operating after it failed to comply with environmental standards.

The city government has intensified its inspection of factories and other establishments to ensure that they are complying with environmental regulations.