‘No record of respiratory syncytial virus in Bacolod’

Bacolod City has no record of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

This was stressed by Dr. Grace Tan, head of the Environment Sanitation Division of the City Health Office (CHO), on Wednesday, September 27, after Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez earlier ordered them to take all preventive measures against the RSV cases in the city.

Tan said the identification of the RSV has to be sent to or confirmed by the laboratory.

She said the CHO reference laboratory that can confirm the virus is the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila.

“So far, we have not sent out a sample specimen for RSV confirmation. If we have increased cases of the flu, it could be the flu viruses that cause it,” she added.

Tan noted that they also intensified their monitoring in various barangays to determine the number of flu cases in the city.

Some private schools in Bacolod City already hold online classes due to the increasing cases of respiratory infections.

Tan said that under Republic Act 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, all institutions are obligated to report any infection or incident that has the potential to cause an outbreak.

She said they are also waiting for a report from any institutions if they have any infection or incident that can cause an outbreak.

“We are only waiting for a report so we can have our investigation. The schools can coordinate with us. We are also on alert if ever there’s a report of respiratory infections,” Tan added.

If there are flu cases or any diseases, Tan said the CHO as well as the health centers are also open for consultation, and they can send the sample specimen to Manila for confirmation of the virus.

Benitez earlier said it’s the work of the CHO to intensify its campaign and update its data to determine the number of RSV cases in the city.

The RSV virus is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious.

The CHO also urged the public to continue wearing face masks, especially in indoor areas, to prevent the spread of the virus and to protect the general public.

Moreover, Tan said the Bacolod Respiratory Outpatient (BRO) Center at the Bacolod Arts, Youth, and Sports Center will be temporarily transferred to another area to continue the swabbing for Covid-19 or any diseases.

"For now, we are still looking for the new location of BRO Center,” she said.

She added that the city government is said to make improvements at the Bays Center.*