Alerto Laban sa A(H1N1)

On August 20, 2007, Department of Agriculture officers investigated the outbreak of swine flu in Nueva Ecija and some other areas in Central Luzon. The mortality rate is less than 10% for swine flu, unless there are complications like hog cholera. On July 27, 2007, the Philippine National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) raised a hog cholera “red alert” warning over Metro Manila and 5 regions of Luzon after the disease spread to backyard pig farms in Bulacan and Pampanga, even if these areas tested negative for the swine flu virus.

Be vigilant! Report A(H1N1) virus cases immediately.

On Thursday, June 11, the World Health Organization declared the A(H1N1) virus to be a pandemic. Many people think it’s long over due, yet just as many think they went too far too soon.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the number of Influenza A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines has risen to 445, after 17 new swine flu cases were confirmed Monday. The 17 new cases include eight males and nine females ages 11 to 58. All but two of the new cases are Filipinos. Three of the new cases recently traveled to countries with confirmed cases of A(H1N1), he said.

He said 84 percent or 374 of the 445 cases of A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines since May 21 have fully recovered.

The health secretary said the DOH will be more aggressive in targeting segments of patients with a high vulnerability to fatal flu complications. These include patients with uncontrolled diabetes, frank cardiovascular disease, COPD, organ transplant recipients, those who are immunocompromised, those with chronic liver and kidney disease, people suffering from other infections like HIV/AIDs and TB, pregnant women and the very young and the elderly.

“We want to make it clear that high-risk groups, once they have the flu symptoms, should immediately go to their doctor.   They should not wait for their symptoms to worsen because they are prone to many infections other than the novel virus such as our seasonal flu strains,” he said in a statement.

DOH Hospitals designated as Referral Centers for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases:

National Referral Center

Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)
Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
Tel No. 809-7599

Sub-national Referral Centers

Luzon and Metro Manila

San Lazaro Hospital
Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
Tel. No. 732-3776 to 78

Lung Center of the Philippines
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. No. 924-6101/924-0707

Visayas

Vicente Sotto Medical Center
Cebu City
Tel. No. (032) 253-9891/2540057

Mindanao

Davao Medical Center
Bajada, Davao City
Tel. No. (082) 227-2731

Satellite Referral Hospitals

Regional Hospitals/Medical Centers of 16 regions

For more information on Influenza A(H1N1),
call (02) 711-1001 or 711-1002
or visit www.doh.gov.ph

Alerto Laban sa Flu!

Upon return from any country with reported Influenza A(H1N1) cases: Be vigilant! If you have the signs and symptoms of Influenza A(H1N1), immediately consult a doctor.

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The A(H1N1) virus article and image is broken from here.

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Breaking or Broken: “Kapitan Sino” ni Bob Ong

“Kung ang lahat ng tao may kapangyarihan eh di sana lahat tayo bayani. Kung lahat ng tao may konsensya, hindi kailangan ng bayani. Paano yung mga nadidisgrasya? Hindi hawak ng tao ang buhay, pero hawak ng tao ang kapangyarihan para hindi pahirapan ang ibang tao.”

– Kapitan Sino

Pamagat: Kapitan Sino
May-Akda: Bob Ong
Kategorya: Maikling Kwento
Publisher: VISPRINT, INC.
ISBN: 971-05450-1-9
Limbag: Abril 2009
Presyo: 175.00 PhP

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Are frats brats?

“Fraternities, as ideally as possible it could mean, is defined as a group of people sharing common interests and ideals.”

ALONG WITH the country’s political and economic turmoil, TUP-T is facing yet another challenge caused by the so-called brotherhood known to many as fraternities. Fraternities, as ideally as possible it could mean, is defined as a group of people sharing common interests and ideals.

Recently, a conflict between a certain on-school fraternity and a community-based youth group shocked the whole TUP-T community. Violence raged along the Bagong Lipunan Condominium (BLC) area with these groups and it has been a problem since some of these people are students of the ‘Premiere State University of Technology.’

TUP-T officials, even during the times when a TUP student from the main campus died of fraternity hazing, have been on its track to identify students from this campus who are members of this group. Still up to now, the officials are having a hard time to do so due to lack of evidences. Although, a school official recently said he found a copy of a certain fraternity’s constitution.

There have been attempts to recognize this group as an accredited student organization but officials rejected such proposals as it may tarnish the University’s reputation.

There are two options, both with its pros and cons that the administration may do: either they accredit the school-based fraternity or to still reject the tender of this group. If the administration recognizes the formation of such group in the University, part of the accreditation requirements is the list of officers and members. Thus, if there is an occurrence of an unlikely event, they would know who to approach and who to interrogate so as to have unbiased decisions and recommendations.

However, it goes back to the idea that the University would bear such untoward activities if it happens. Or they could refuse the group’s motion and bear the same problems all over again.

This is Xy, breaking the silence.

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This article is published on the second term issue for school year 2006-2007 of The Philippine Artisan, the official student publication of the Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig.

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