THE Department of Health (DOH) 7 yesterday released the two confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in Cebu, after repeat test swabs showed both patients no longer have the virus.

“But even if they are discharged, they are advised to observe self-monitoring and social distancing for at least five days,” said DOH 7 Director Susana Madarieta.

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A one-year-old Filipino-American girl and a 13-year-old Filipino boy both tested positive last week for H1N1. The one-year-old girl arrived in the country from the United States, while the 13-year-old boy arrived from Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, officials said that despite the A(H1N1) virus now confirmed in over 40 countries, the Philippines will continue
sending workers abroad.

In an interview with reporters yesterday, Exequiel Sarcauga, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 assistant regional director, said that since the start of the outbreak, no advisory has been issued against sending overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) 7 Regional Director Evelyn Durato agreed with Sarcauga, citing an
increasing number of OFWs from Region 7 to the Middle East and Canada.

Both patients who have so far tested positive in Central Visayas were discharged after lunch yesterday from the hospitals where they were staying.

Only the 42-year-old female—who came in close contact with the two Taiwanese nationals who attended a wedding in
Zambales then later tested positive back home—remains as a confirmed case in Cebu.

Madarieta said that should the 42-year-old female also test negative for H1N1 during her repeat swab testing, she will eventually be released.

The health department already reported a total of 21 confirmed cases in the country.

Despite the growing number of confirmed cases, the DOH assured they remained on top of the situation and that there was no need for the public to panic.

“There is no cause for alarm. We are still on top of the situation and we are closely monitoring the contacts,” said Dr. Madarieta.

However, the mother of the one-year-old Filipino-American girl believes otherwise.

“Those that were exposed to my daughter were not treated,” said the mother. (She requested that her name be withheld.)

At least 14 family members, she said, were among the party that arrived from the United States, but none of them received any medicine from the DOH after her daughter was confirmed to have the H1N1 virus.

“It was only me, my daughter and my sister who got the medicine. We stayed at the hospital with my daughter,” she told Sun.Star Cebu.

She said that while the entire party felt fine, they were still expecting the medicine from the DOH. “They assured us that people be would treated,” said the mother.

She said that because her husband is scheduled to leave for the United States on Friday, she had to buy him the antivirus medicine herself.

“The 14 were all together. They have not received the treatment. It’s their (DOH) job to give the medicine. When are they going to do this?” she said.

Madarieta explained that the party members were not given the antivirus medicine because none of them showed any signs and symptoms of the H1N1 virus.

“There was no need to give the medicine. What we are trying to avoid here is the indiscriminate use of the medicine. We want to keep people from developing resistance strains,” Said Madarieta.

She added that they could not just give out medicine “left and right” without seeing the need for it. The mother and the mother’s sister were the only ones given the medicine because they stayed at the hospital and were the ones carrying the baby all the time.

The DOH official added that local health authorities in the area also monitored the party members.

“If this was her concern, she should have told us. If she wanted to verify all of this, she should have directly come to us and discussed this,” said Madarieta.

Madarieta, however, assured that she will look into the situation and discuss the matter with the health personnel who handled the family.

The DOH has also met with Dole officials regarding the safety of OFWs in countries affected by A(H1N1), Sarcauga said in a press conference of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) 7.

Health officials advised OFWs to follow precautionary measures abroad, such as wearing masks and washing their hands properly.

“Though there is no ban, we advised OFWs, particularly those in A(H1N1)-affected countries, to be vigilant and practice health precautions,” said Sarcauga.

Durato, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said she advised OFWs to take early prevention measures against the virus, like taking vitamins.

Sarcauga said that right now, OFW deployment remains stable, particularly in Middle Eastern destinations such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Canada, an A(H1N1)-affected country, also remains a prime destination for OFWs, Sarcauga said.

Sarcauga said the US, which used to be a prime destination for OFWs, now lags behind other countries due to its recession, while Europe is slowly recovering from the crisis, with OFWs now being hired again in the UK, said Sarcauga.