Valenzuela clarifies flu report

MANILA, Philippines - The city health department of Valenzuela City clarified yesterday a report that 4,000 residents were affected by “a simple flu virus” last January, saying that they actually suffered from acute upper respiratory infection.

City health officer Dr. Jaime Exconde said in a letter to The STAR that records of the city’s epidemiology and surveillance unit, though, showed there were only 111 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI), of which “no cases” were labeled as an H1N1 case.

Exconde also said Barangays Malinta and Ugong did not have any reported ILI, though Barangay Marulas had one reported case.   – Perseus Echeminada