SARANGANI provincial health officer Dr. Antonio Yasaña has confirmed one case of influenza A (H1N1) in Malapatan town but said the patient has fully recovered.

Dr. Yasaña, who was attending a meeting of health officials in General Santos City Tuesday, said it was a "case under observation" since the 38-year-old female had travelled in Taiwan.

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She arrived in the Philippines and in her home at Purok 7, Poblacion, Malapatan in Sarangani on June 15. After five days, she showed manifestation of H1N1, with body pains and coughing.

She was treated and examined with throat swab, Dr. Yasaña said. By the time the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine result from Manila arrived on July 13, the patient has already fully recovered.

Yasaña said that after immediate field visit, interview and gathering of data, the patient's 16 "direct contacts" did not manifest flu-like symptoms.

He said the provincial and municipal health offices were prepared against influenza A (H1N1), adding that the provincial health office has antiviral drug, Tamiflu, that are the recommended drugs to treat and or prevent infection with H1N1 virus.

"Giving the right information to the public is always the best thing to do to avoid panic," Yasaña said.

"We have all the mitigating guidelines provided to us by the Department of Health (DOH). All we have to do is to minimize misinformation from the community," he said.

A random survey of 200 persons in Purok 7 did not manifest flu-like symptoms, he added. (SIO)