UP Ibalon Bicol: Mitigation versus containment in the fight against the H1N1 flu

Mitigation versus containment in the fight against the H1N1 flu

6/09/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

The sudden rise of H1N1 flu cases in the Philippines to 46 had Dr. Francisco Duque III of the Department of Health (DOH) and his team to shift gear in the battle against the viral infection. Early on, containment was the goal to stop the spread of the swine flu at the bud, but the sharp increase of those stricken with the disease, made them to resort to “mitigation”----a lesser goal to reduce the outbreak’s spread and severity.

“As more and more cases were confirmed daily, Duque said health authorities were no longer doing contact tracing since the virus was being transmitted much faster than they could trace and quarantine all contacts of those infected with the virus.

"It offers little benefit to do extensive tracing of this virus when it is clear that the disease can be passed on to others at a rate faster than it will ever be humanly possible to find the contacts,” he said.

“This means that we only do early detection and aggressive treatment of cases as they come, especially for those with high-risk preexisting conditions. Those manifesting mild symptoms can be managed and monitored at home so that only patients at risk of developing complications ‘----PDI (06/08/09, Pazzibugan, D.)

What Dr. Duque says is that the illness is out of the genie box and absolute control is unrealistic. Minimization of the disease’ potential impact is the "better" course of action. Reducing the severity of exposure is now the strategy knowing that the exposed have become more difficult to track.

This comes at a time of the opening of classes. And rainy season is at hand. Dengue, another health hazard carried by mosquitoes is brewing in the air. In greater numbers, more people have become possible swine flu and dengue hemorrhagic fever carriers thus making more infections in the community possible.

To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified the Philippines to have the highest number of swine flu cases in Southeast Asia. As of its latest tally on June 8, 2009, WHO listed 73 countries affected by the swine flu with a total of 25,288 confirmed cases and 139 recorded deaths. (Photo Credit: CDC) =0=

UPDATE: June 9, 2009: Follow up update revealed 57 cases of swine flu in the Philippines. Many of the recently infected had been students in Manila and those with history of travel outside the country. Vigilance, personal responsibility, and self-help to prevent the disease are in order to limit the spread of the infection.

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Labels: dengue, diseases, DOH, Dr. Francisco Duque, epidemic, H1N1 virus, Influenza, Swine flu, Totie, update, WHO

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Mitigation versus containment in the fight against the H1N1 flu

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