THE number of confirmed influenza A (H1N1) cases in the country continues to climb with a total of 1,709 cases.

But the Department of Health (DOH) said that 1,485 of them recovered from the virus.

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"The remaining 224 or 14 percent are still under treatment at present most of them under home management," Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

Duque said they are anticipating more cases in the coming months, so it would "institute effective mitigation measures to save lives and prevent deaths and to reduce the impact of the pandemic to our nation and the economy."

Of the total figure, 1,568 are Filipinos followed by Americans (17), Japanese (eight), Chinese (four), Koreans (three), Germans (two), and one each from Australia, Canada, India, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Sweden, Thailand, and Turkey.

A total of 235 had traveled to countries with A (H1N1) cases like the United States (113), China (42), Japan (33), Singapore (30), Malaysia (11), Thailand (nine), Australia (seven), Canada (six), the United Kingdom (five), the United Arab Emirates (four), and Korea (four).

The patients' ages raged from five months to 79 years old. More than half of them are males.

All cases exhibited mild symptoms, the most common of which was fever (86 percent), cough (81 percent), and nasal congestion (49 percent).

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the DOH also established from whom the House of Representatives employee, who became the country's first fatality from A (H1N1), got the virus.

However, he said the "index" case, also a House employee, had recovered from the infection, as well as its four contracts who developed "influenza-like illnesses."

Villaverde added that the DOH would be meeting with Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Hospital Association, Philippine Hospital Infection Control Society, and other groups to "engage all hospitals and healthcare providers in the appropriate treatment and management of A (H1N1) patients according to the set interim guidelines of the DOH."

During last Tuesday's command conference, DOH regional director and program managers were directed by Duque to closely coordinate with the local government units to ensure that they are aware of the mitigation strategy against A (H1N1).

Under the strategy, the DOH will no longer conduct contact tracing while it makes quarantine of suspected cases voluntary since the virus remains mild in nature.

The agency also focuses on treatment to severe cases or those with underlying illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, asthma, tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus, cancer, pregnant women, the elderly (aged above 60 years old), and children below five years old.

Duque also directed the mobilization of barangay health emergency response teams so they could help in monitoring, responding, and reporting cases.

He added that it is necessary for barangay and rural health centers to be prepared for the "surge of mild cases" in the coming months.

"But our appeal to the public is that if you are not sick, don't overburden the health system. There are instances that even for simple headaches, they go to hospitals for throat swab testing," he noted. (MSN/Sunnex)