Government to Hold Forum on Swine Flu Scare

MANILA, May 1  -- Malacanang will hold next week a comprehensive forum on the swine flu virus to share information and best practices from experts and map out appropriate defensive strategies for public health.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the forum will serve as the focal point to marshal available resources, similar to the country's successful response to the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) scare several years ago.

The government will also tap call centers to disseminate information, which was not done during the SARS scare because the call centers were relatively new then, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

"We stepped up surveillance and screening of inbound passengers in the six international airports by putting more people and additional thermal scanners to help us detect people who might be carrying the virus," Duque said.

Suspected carriers of the virus will be required to pass through the process of screening, isolation, quarantine and if warranted, will undergo appropriate medical procedures, Duque said.

Quoting a Bureau of Animal Industry report, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the virus has greatly affected pork sales because of the words "swine flu." For as long as the word "swine" is attached to the virus, the local pork sales and the swine industry will continue to suffer, he added.

Duque explained that it takes seven to 10 days before the symptoms of swine flu manifest, thus a carrier who may not have exhibited the symptoms when he/she arrives in the country could still spread the virus during his/her stay.

For this reason, the health department has been issuing alert notices to inbound passengers and health declaration checklists to guide them on what to expect, especially those coming from countries affected by swine flu like Mexico, the United States and other countries, Duque said.

The checklist basically tells inbound travelers step-by-step on what they should do in case the symptoms manifest. For starters, they should stay indoors until the symptoms subside. At the same time, they must keep in touch with the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) which will provide the medicines and medical services needed to treat the afflicted person. (PNA)