DOH mum on flu patient's activities

(Health Secretary Francisco Duque announces first case of Influenza A/H1N1 infection in the Philippines. Photo from AFP.)

THE Department of Health has been doing what it terms "contract tracing" on the case of the 10-year-old girl found to be infected with Influenza A/H1N1 virus. But is keeping a lid on where she went since she arrived in the country on May 18. If she went to the mall, she would have already passed on the virus to other mallgoers.

The DOH officials also didn't want to identify what airport the child's plane landed in bec. it would identify where she is located. However, they did say that the passenger manifest of the plane which the child rode on is currently being reviewed so that the other passengers would be contacted for observation purposes.

The child's family, of course, has requested for privacy. I hope the family was forthcoming enough to inform their friends and relatives abroad who their child came in contact with, of the current situation so they too can be vigilant and observe their own households for possible infection.

For more notes on the presscon of DOH Secretary Duque last night, click reporter Dana Batnag's blog.