THERE are no reported cases of the virus in the region but the Department of Health (DOH) 10 is now in "emergency mode" as cases of influenza type A (H1N1) rose to 1,490 worldwide with 30 confirmed fatalities globally.

Over 20 countries around the world have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza type A (H1N1), with Hong kong confirming the virus is already in Southeast Asia.

Regional Director Jaime Bernadas of DOH 10 told reporters Wednesday afternoon they have taken proactive measures in the region in the event the virus enters the country.

DOH has activated an Operations Center, which is manned 24 hours a day by the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU). The RESU staff can be reached through telephone numbers (632)711-1001, 711-1002, (63)921-592-2361 and (63)915-772-5621.

"We have conducted an orientation on chiefs of government hospitals, provincial health officers, and city health official in Region 10 on the virus and our preparedness plan," Bernadas said.

Bernadas has instructed provincial hospital chiefs to have at least one dedicated room for influenza A (H1N1) patients. The DOH also issued protective gadgets to their field health personnel.

The Northern Mindanao Medical Center at the Capitol compound, according to Bernadas, is already equipped to handle H1N1 flu cases.

"We are putting into action the preparedness plan when we had the bird flu scare in 2005. We discussed the flaws of the plan and improved on them," Bernadas said.

He said influenza-like illnesses are being strictly monitored.

Last Tuesday, Bernadas assumed leadership and convened the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council to orient its members on the influenza A (H1N1) virus and review the current preparedness plan.

Bernadas told Sun.Star they are addressing the A (H1N1) phase 5-pandemic with a multi-government agency approach. Groups are being formed into clusters.

The clusters were organized to better respond if ever the virus reaches the country and the region. The clusters are as follows: Health, Security and Enforcement, Logistics and Transportation, Public Information, Emergency Shelter, Food, Camp Management and Protection.

Bernadas said the DOH central office has 600,000 capsules of Tamiflu (generic name: Oseltamivir), which has been found to be effective against the virus. This cache of medicines, he said, is a carryover from the avian flu scare of 2005 and the capsules would not expire until 2010, Bernadas said.

"These medicines were donations from the United Nations as countermeasure during the bird flu scare," he said.

Bernadas added in their national meeting that many regional offices of DOH have asked for buffer stocks of the medicine.

"It won't be easy to stock if the epidemic enters the country. Ngayon pa lang magstock na tayo (We stock now)," Bernadas said.

Last Monday, Bernadas directed the local Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and Regional Licensing and Regulatory Division (RLED) to conduct an inventory of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in local pharmacies and drugstores to ensure availability of the medicine in case the pandemic reaches the region.

"It should only be dispensed with prescription," Bernadas said. This is to discourage "irrational drug use," he added.

Irrational use of the drug, he said, would be dangerous because the influenza A (H1N1) virus might develop a resistance to the only drug it is sensitive to, thus exacerbating the chances of containing the pandemic.

This directive, according to Bernadas, is also to discourage hoarding of the drug among local drug suppliers and distributors in the region.

Those who would try to profit even in the face of a pandemic, Bernadas warned, would be dealt with the full force of applicable laws.

Regional Epidemiologist Dave Mendoza, meanwhile, told local media Wednesday that people should stop calling the pandemic as swine flu as the virus causing it is totally new and has a human pathogen.

The A (H1N1) flu, Mendoza said, is caused by a totally new virus, which is a result of a re-assortment of four different viruses from pigs, human, and birds. There is no vaccine yet to protect humans from this virus.

Among the signs and symptoms in humans are fever, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint pains, lack of appetite, runny nose, sore throat, cough, vomiting or nausea, and diarrhea.

Mendoza said since the World Health Organization (WHO) placed the situation at phase 5, all flu-like illnesses should be dealt with seriously.

"Dapat you should seek immediate medical attention," Mendoza said.