Thursday, April 06, 2006
Sick police officer denies disease is 'contagious'
A RANKING officer of the Pangasinan police, now recovering from a severe viral infection of the nerves, deplored on Wednesday a report by a giant television saying he had contracted a deadly contagious disease.
Harris Fama, chief of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force based in the province, said a news report of ABS-CBN broadcaster Julius Babao over the morning program "Magandang Umaga Bayan" last Friday had shamed him and his family.
Fama branded Babao's alleged reference to his sickness as "nakakahawa (contagious)" as unfounded and unfair.
Fama fell seriously ill, his condition turning worse since the first day he felt the symptoms. On March 23, he was diagnosed by Dr. Philip Oliva, a neurologist at the Villaflor Doctors Hospital in Dagupan City, as suffering from the guillain-barre syndrome, a rare illness characterized by progressive weakness of the limbs, which progresses to paralysis if not properly treated.
He first noticed a numbing of his hand that later progressed to non-movement of his arms. Shortly afterwards, he found that his legs would give way once he tried to get up and walk.
According to him, he quickly sought medical attention from a friend-doctor who advised him to see a neurologist. "At no time during my medical consultation that this disease was contagious," he said.
"I mean, if it was, as reported by Babao, a contagious disease, why should I in all conscience still be mingling with my family and risk their being infected too?" he added.
At one point, Fama said while he was undergoing treatment in Manila, it was reported he had died. He clarified it was another police officer who exhibited almost similar symptoms who died in Manila. It was not clear as of press time if the officer who died was diagnosed as a guillain-barre syndrome patient.
Fama said he is keeping his options open on the possible filing of charges against the television network. (Pangasinan Star/Sunnex)
(April 6, 2006 issue)
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