Ateneo Not Suspending Classes Despite A(H1N1) Case

NAGA CITY--Classes in all levels at the Ateneo de Naga University will not be suspended despite one confirmed case of a student contracting the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

The Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday afternoon that the student was already discharged from the Bicol Medical Center and being closely monitored by health workers.

Dr. Alan Lucañaz, representative of DOH Bicol said in a press conference that there was no need to suspend classes in the university because it (university) had conducted precautionary measures such as disinfection of campus buildings and facilities long before there was a reported case of A(H1N1) infection.

He also said the university had been in constant communication with them and with city and provincial health officials on the management of the confirmed A(H1N1) case and other flu-like symptoms.

The mechanism and guidelines observed by the university in the management of flu-like illness among students and employees have been evaluated as very good, he added.

Lacuñaz said the confirmed case of a student in the university contracting the virus brings the total of A(H1N1) virus infection in Naga to 4.

Earlier, about 40 students from a Nursing class section in the university were sent home after they had shown signs and symptoms of flu, according to the university's health services center.

Lucañaz also said they would conduct random testing of pupils from Naga Parochial School, a Church-run elementary school, which reported more that a hundred pupils showing flu-like symptoms. Classes in the school were suspended until Monday next week.

He said they already had been conducting tests of students from Philippine Science High School in Goa, Camarines Sur, which suspended classes this week after it reported more than 70 students with cough and fever this week.

There were also reported cases of several students showing flu-like symptoms in St. Joseph School, Universidad de Sta. Isabel, University of Nueva Caceres, South Bridges Learning Center, and St.Catherine Laboure School in Pili, Camarines Sur.

But Dr. Aurora Daluro, DOH-Bicol epidemiologist, said most of the students in the schools where there were reported cases of flu-like symptoms were just ill with the seasonal or common flu.

Daluro, along with Lucañaz said that although the DOH had earlier considered AH1N1 virus infection as a mild form of ailment just like the common flu, they were still actively monitoring reported cases.

"AH1N1 virus infection is highly-contagious and can lead to complications, especially to persons with low resistance to illnesses. That's why we continue what we are doing. This isn't an overkill."