HEALTH officials announced yesterday that three schools in Metro Cebu and a high school in the south are being observed after students there showed symptoms of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

These four schools, including the Philippine Science High School in Argao town, have yielded swab samples as part of efforts to check if any students there have the
virus, said Dr. Cora Lou Kintanar, Department of Health (DOH) 7 spokesperson.

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Kintanar said she proceeded to Argao town yesterday after some students in the government-funded school showed signs, like fever.

7 new CUOs

Three other schools, mostly private schools within Metro Cebu, are also under observation after 18 students there showed signs and symptoms of the new flu virus.

As of now, Region 7 has 199 cases under observation (CUOs), with seven new CUOs added yesterday. There were still 33 confirmed cases, with the last tallied case recorded during the last weekend.

Nine students—four girls and five boys—are being observed in the Argao school’s infirmary and are awaiting the results of their tests, added Kintanar.

If anyone tests positive, she assured the spread of the virus can be controlled. Most of the students live in in-school dormitories.

When three students first tested positive at the University of Cebu Lapu-lapu-Mandaue (UCLM) campus, school and health officials quarantined 600 other scholars in the same dorm, as a precaution. Eighteen maritime scholars were eventually affected, but the strain was mild.

The Philippine Science High School in Argao is an institution funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which aims to train future scientists.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, the principal of Talamban National High School denied reports that some of her students were confirmed to have Influenza A (H1N1), after showing symptoms.

In an interview with radio DYLA, principal Victoria Japitana said that most of the 18 students reported they had fever after participating in last Saturday’s attempt to break the record for the largest dance class.

About 7,700 participants gathered in the Cebu City Sports Center to break the record last Saturday afternoon.

Japitana said that the students, who were mostly fourth-year students taking second-shift classes in the afternoon, suffered from fever after they failed to eat lunch during the activity.

Japitana added that some of them also suffered from fatigue after practicing their routine for days and staying too long under the sun.

Rest

Japitana said she has asked the students to go home, rest and wait until they get better.

Kintanar said she has not received reports from local health officials that high school students in Talamban were showing symptoms of A(H1N1). She added she will check and verify the report.

Dr. Recaredo Borgonia, Department of Education (Deped) 7 regional director, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that if any public school will have confirmed cases within their campus, they will be ready to suspend classes for 10 days. (JKV)