The Department of Health has launched the “Bantay Fever at Flu” campaign across hospitals nationwide. This is an effort to stave off the Influenza A strain from entering the country.
Thermal scanners have been set up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Travelers who have fever will be examined and will be asked where they came from before they arrived in the Philippines. If they did not come from any affected country, they will be sent home after they are given medicine, said Dr. Eric Tayag of the National Epidemiology Center.
Right now, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) can only determine whether a strain is negative from Influenza A subtypes H3N1 and H1N1, both naturally found among pigs. All cases that will appear positive for H1N1 will be sent to a laboratory in Australia for confirmatory testing.
Exercising appropriate cough manners and proper handwashing to avoid all kinds of diseases that are transmitted through the air. (PIA)