HEALTH authorities confirmed that at least 10 people in Northern Mindanao who were found positive of the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

But all infected persons have already recovered and released from confinement, said Jun Galban, information officer of the regional Department of Health in Northern Mindanao (DOH-10).

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The 10 are among the several suspected cases in the region A (H1N1) whose throat and oro-pharyngeal swabs were sent to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Manila for testing.

Galban explained the results of laboratory tests for Northern Mindanao arrived late last week only because around 500 samples are being examined around the country every day.

It remains unclear whether more tests would be conducted on the confirmed cases to determine whether or not they have fully recovered from the flu virus infection.

Galban said the two cases in Misamis Occidental had their tests taken in Cotabato City—an indication that they had contracted the virus there—but were still tallied in the region where they are residents.

Earlier on Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to organize quick reaction teams and mobile testing facilities for deployment to areas affected by the A(H1N1) virus.

As of Friday, the DOH said there have been 861 confirmed cases as of A(H1N1) in the country.  Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde, however, said that this “overwhelming" number of A(H1N1) cases are easily treated and do not need to be managed in a hospital setting.

Arroyo also ordered the DOH to prepare “well-equipped isolation wards" in state-run facilities.

But Villaverde said most hospitals already have such rooms.

“I think all hospitals have assigned rooms, and there’s no special equipment needed for A(H1N1) but oxygen tanks," said the undersecretary.

The other official was, however, quick to mention that the DOH has yet to settle all the matters regarding the implementation of the directive.

“I don’t know if a dialogue transpired between Malacañang and Secretary Duque but I guess the Palace gave the directive because they think these are the best options," she said.

For the quick response teams, the President ordered the DOH tap from the pool of "still-to-be-employed" nurses, and organize information and education teams about A(H1N1). Excerpts of the directive were read by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is with Arroyo in Hong Kong, on government-run dzRB radio Saturday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was not immediately available for comment but he will be holding a command conference with the regional directors of the DOH to discuss the additional proposed measures against the A(H1N1) virus on Monday.

The DOH was also ordered to place the A(H1N1) alert level in the country at the alert level of the World Health Organization “for increased alertness and preparedness."

Arroyo issued the directives as three more schools were added to the list of educational institutions confirmed to have cases of the A(H1N1) virus in the country, upping the previous tally to 43 Philippine schools with at least 154 swine flu cases.  (DVAIII with Sunnex)