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Saturday, April 05, 2003
Cebu drugstores run out of masks
By Linette C. Ramos
CEBU -- Even if the use of masks does not guarantee that one will not be infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), local drugstores have run out of masks.
While calling on people not to panic, Dr. Junjie Zuasula, chief of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Resu), explained that wearing masks may minimize the possibility of getting infected and it is "good enough for protection."
All Mercury Drug branches in Cebu City and at least three branches of Rose Pharmacy have run out of surgical and gauze masks, which is sold at P4 to P22, depending on the brand.
"Apparently, the mask hysteria is taking effect on the public. As far as what we know of the disease, there is no definite treatment for it and it cannot be guaranteed that we can avoid it by wearing masks. But personally, I would say that it would be good to use it for protection," Zuasula told Sun.Star.
Not in Cebu
Masks, he said, must be worn all the time by health workers while they are on duty in hospitals or by those going to countries with confirmed Sars infections.
As of Friday afternoon, there was still no confirmed case of Sars in Cebu, although a female patient confined at the North General Hospital in Talamban, Cebu City is still under observation.
Although the patient had recent trips to China, Hong Kong and Singapore, Zuasula said the patient cannot be considered a "suspected case" yet since she does not have a fever reaching 38 degrees centigrade.
"We have to observe first to make sure but I think this is not a possible Sars case because she doesn't have fever reaching 38 degrees, but she is feverish. All other patients who complained of flu-like symptoms have already been cleared," he said.
A British national, an American national and a female health worker confined in the same hospital were already discharged after they were cleared of Sars.
So far, 2,200 individuals worldwide have already been infected with Sars, 78 of whom have died.
Unknown foe
Lito Albo of Mercury Drug along Leon Kilat St. in Cebu City said they ran out of masks as early as last week and they have not replenished their stocks since then.
"The local suppliers cannot supply the drugstores anymore because their suppliers in Manila have also run out of stock. Up to now, there is no word yet when they will get the supply," he told Sun.Star Friday.
At its branch in Ayala Center Cebu, Yen Tiu said their customers bought as many as a dozen each.
While medicines to counter Sars are not available yet, Zuasula said a strong immune system is still the key to fight its symptoms, which include flu, cough, body weakness and shortness of breath.
As for those who have had contact with a Sars patient, frequent hand washing and strict isolation control measures, such as the wearing of gowns and masks, will minimize chances of acquiring the disease, he said.
"Up to now, we are still fighting the unknown. The cause of Sars and its cure are not known yet, so the best key to prevention is to have a healthy and strong immune system," Zuasula said. Sun.Star Cebu |
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