The Philippine Online Chronicles

I still remember the hysteria caused by A(H1N1) back in 2009.  And, as a parent, I’m deeply concerned about the opening of classes this coming June.

Last year, the A(H1N1) scare forced schools in different parts of the country to postpone opening of classes to a later date. The scare escalated as some students in various schools confirmed positive for A(H1N1), pushing affected schools to suspend classes for days.

The virus may have eased up but extreme vigilance is still crucial as students head back to school. An estimated 23 million students will flock to public schools nationwide on June 15 as the new school year starts.  As million of students return to school, the threat of the common flu and the dreaded Influenza A(H1N1) loom in the air. The risk of A(H1N1) becomes more worrisome with some students coming back from their summer vacation abroad.

Common flu and A(H1N1)

The flu, medically called influenza, is a common viral respiratory infectious illness.

A(H1N1) flu, which was earlier referred to as “swine flu”, is a new influenza virus that has been spreading from person-to-person worldwide, in a manner in which the common seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Both the common flu and A(H1N1) flu spread through:

• Inhalation of droplets from an infected individual (usually when a person coughs or sneezes).
• Using the hands to rub or touch eyes, nose and mouth after touching contaminated surfaces (The virus has the ability to survive on surfaces for two to eight hours).

A(H1N1) exhibits flu-like symptoms which include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, body aches, headache, and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus have also experienced nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. In serious A(H1N1) cases, severe illnesses and death have been reported.

Getting ready for Influenza A(H1N1)

The Department of Health (DOH) is getting ready to monitor a possible second wave Influenza A(H1N1) infections as classes resume. The DOH is gearing up to face the threat of the flu virus that infected thousands of people last year.

“Partikular na [binabantayan] ang pagbabalik-eskwela dahil simula ito ng flu season. Maaring magkaroon tayo ng second wave ng A(H1N1) dahil hindi pa natin nakukumpleto ang pag-bakuna (We are particularly monitoring students’ return to schools because that’s when the flu season starts. We might have a second wave of A(H1N1) because we have not yet completed the vaccinations.)," Eric Tayag, DOH chief epidemiologist, mentioned in his recent interview in a TV show.

Flu shot

Flu vaccine is an “inactivated vaccine” composed of killed influenza virus. When the killed influenza virus is administered through injection into the muscles, it stimulates the immune system to build antibodies to the influenza virus. According to Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, program manager of the DOH’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control and a member of the Technical Working Group for Influenza Philippines, the single best protection against flu is to get vaccinated each year.

Suy emphasizes that “to be most effective, the vaccine needs to be given two to three months before the start of the flu season.”  He said that in the Philippines, it is beneficial to get vaccinated during the first quarter of the year when flu is at its peak.

Side effects of flu shot include soreness at the site of the injection, muscle aching, fever, and feeling unwell.  There have been rare cases of serious allergic reactions reported.

The following people are cautioned to get flu shots (they can only do so after consultation with the doctor):

• People who are allergic to chicken or egg protein.
• Those with fever or illness that is more than "just a cold".
• Individuals who had previous moderate to severe reaction to flu shot.
• Pregnant women or women in the stage of tying to conceive. (The flu shot contains a mercury preservative which have been  linked to cases of birth defects )
• Individuals who have been paralysed due to Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Getting a flu shot does not mean to complete immunity against the flu virus. As the WHO recommends different flu strains every year, the flu shot must also be administered every year.

A(H1N1) vaccine

Eric Tayag confirmed that health workers were the first recipients of A(H1N1) vaccines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). The said vaccines were administered to health workers last April. According to the Health Department, the next batch of priorities for the vaccines are pregnant women, children below five years old, adults 60 years old and above, and individuals with chronic diseases such as HIV, diabetes, and asthma.

According to Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, regional coordinator for A(H1N1) in Western Visayas, ‘the vaccination will be administered voluntarily and free of charge in all government hospitals and rural health centers and clinics in the region’.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that they have already deployed A (H1N1) vaccines to various parts of the country, particularly in areas considered still vulnerable to the virus. The Philippine government aims to reduce the impact of the pandemic through A(H1N1) vaccination. The vaccine is safe and effective against A(H1N1) and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Putting up the best defense

The best offense against A(H1N1) is defense.  Prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips to avoid acquiring the dreaded A(H1N1) virus:

1. Wash hands often and thoroughly with water and soap. Teach young kids the proper way of washing their hands. Adults can supervise young kids and encourage them to wash their hands while singing the Happy Birthday song twice. In the absence of water and soap, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubbing alcohol to clean hands.

2. Use a handkerchief, tissue, or your upper sleeve to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Never sneeze or cough into your hands. If possible, stay away from other people whenever you cough or sneeze. Throw away tissue after use.

3. As much as possible, avoid close contact at social gatherings (e.g. shaking hands, hugging, kissing or holding hands) during the flu season.

4. Stay away from crowded places especially if you are a high risk individual. If you have to go to visit a crowded area, consider wearing a face mask. Avoid too much contact with sick people unless you are in the medical field.

5. Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. Make sure you get enough rest and sleep, avoiding stress as much as possible.

6. Pay attention to travel advisories. Avoid visiting countries with confirmed A(H1N1) cases.

7. Allow air to circulate in your room by opening windows for at least one hour. Harmful organisms can easily retain in air-conditioned rooms and closed areas.

8. Impose self-quarantine if you exhibit flu-like symptoms for at least seven days. Consult a physician in a nearby clinic or hospital.

9. Get vaccinated against the A(H1N1) virus. It is given free of charge in government health facilities, although priority is given to the health-impaired, the elderly, and healthcare workers.

Photos: ‘el miedo se observa’ by Sabbhat Sabacio Striges, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved. / ‘Flu shot’ from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain. / ‘cover cough’ from http://www.cdc.gov/. Under public domain.

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Rachel Yapchiongco, also known as Rach to her friends, is a Psychology and Marketing Management graduate of De La Salle University.  She took up several units of MBA at the same university.  Rachel is a full-time mom to a charming young boy and married to an entrepreneur with a passion for cooking. She shares parenting experiences and slices of everyday life on her personal blog called Heart of Rachel.