Still no case of Pinoys with bird flu, says health dept

THERE is still no human infection of bird flu in the country, the health department assured on Wednesday.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said two poultry farm workers who manifested flu-like symptoms, have tested negative for avian influenza.

“The results were released [Tuesday] night — the two [tested] negative,” Ubial said.

The assurance from the health department came in the wake of the shipment of 21 tons of dressed chicken from Bulacan to Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. The shipment caught authorities here by surprise given a shipment ban of chickens by the agriculture department.

Ubial said the results of nose and throat swabs and blood samples from the two patients from San Luis, Pampanga had been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. It turned out they were suffering from regular flu, she said.

“There are three types of influenza (virus): A, B, C. A is for birds; B is for humans; C is for pigs. The two had the B (virus),” said Ubial, adding that the two patients were advised to continue taking the anti-viral medicine provided by the health department.

The two were discharged from a hospital on Tuesday night.

The two patients were among a group of poultry farm workers who were subjected to tests by the health department because they had direct contact with infected chickens. One reportedly had fever, while the other had cough.

Health department spokesperson Eric Tayag said fever, cough and sore throat are symptoms of bird flu.

Tayag noted that those who have direct contact with infected birds, such as those who care, slaughter and dressed chickens and clean their coop, and those who come near them are at risk of contracting avian flu.

The virus, which is found in infected chickens’ feathers, intestines and feces, can enter a person’s body through the eyes, nose and mouth.

Tayag assured that the chances of survival of bird flu patients are big, especially if the illness is detected and managed early.

He said the health department has been preparing for bird flu since 1997 and has stored sufficient stocks of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) in case of any outbreak. (pna)