Update No. 49 - DOH AND SMART Join Forces Against A (H1N1); 85% of Reported Cases Fully Recovered

From: DOH WebPage

23 June 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today welcomed the support of SMART Communications, Inc. in the government’s continuing efforts to fight influenza A (H1N1). SMART represented by its Public Affairs Group Head, Mr. Ramon R. Isberto, unveiled the company’s SMART Health Watch Hotline 155 which can be used by the public to access the most recent information and updates on the novel virus A (H1N1).

“We welcome SMART’s move to strengthen government efforts against A (H1N1) through a better informed, educated and empowered Filipino public. By hitting 155 on their Smart and Talk ‘N Text-powered mobile phones, subscribers can easily access information on A(H1N1). This is good for the A (H1N1) information campaign. We, at the Department of Health (DOH), are glad that we have this partnership,” Duque said

Hotline 155 will be available starting today from Mondays to Fridays, from 8am-5pm. Duque said that the DOH will be providing the contents that Smart will be giving its subscribers.

“We have given them all relevant information on the novel virus that they will need because they would be manning the hotline. However, when tougher questions come up, they will be referring the callers to the DOH-Health Emergency Management Service Operations Center,” Duque said.

Duque said that apart from the hotline, there will also be a Smart Infoboard Service, a text messaging solution that will provide a more effective and efficient communication service.

“This means that information on A(H1N1) can soon be accessible through text messaging,” Duque said.

Meanwhile, Duque announced that 26 more A(H1N1) patients have already fully recovered, thus bringing the total count of those who have fully recovered to 400. This figure represents 85% of all the confirmed cases reported since May 21.

Duque also disclosed today that there are 28 more confirmed (mild) cases of the novel virus in the country. This new number brings the total sum of confirmed cases to 473.

The 28 new cases involved 16 males and 12 females. Their age range is from 7 months to 49 years old, with 19 as median age. All of the cases are Filipinos with no history of travel to any affected country.

“There is only one reported A(H1N1)-related death in the country,” Duque said. “All close contacts in the household and in the workplace of this particular patient are being monitored and are now in quarantine,” he added.

Duque said that globally the World Health Organization has reported 52,160 cases with 231 deaths from 94 reporting countries. Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam and Fiji are the new countries that reported A(H1N1) cases.