DOH clears 34 Pampanga, Ecija workers of avian flu

At least 34 people who took part in the bird-culling operations in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija have been cleared of the avian flu virus after being isolated for displaying flu-like symptoms, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.

Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Ubial said all 34—30 from Pampanga and four from Nueva Ecija—tested negative for the H5N6 strain of the avian flu.

“They were promptly placed in isolation as part of precautionary measures to avert any possible human-to-human transmission of infection,” Ubial said in a televised press conference.

READ: DA expert: Bird flu strain in Pampanga is transmissible to humans

“Thus, they were also started on the antiviral Oseltamivir while awaiting for the laboratory results from RITM. As of August 24, yesterday, all were negative for influenza AH5N6.”

The DOH is continuously monitoring their conditions, as well as the seven more suspected cases, whose test results are pending.

The announcement came after the government confirmed that the H5N6 is a bird flu strain that transmits to human. Dr. Socorro Lupisan, director for the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, said the transmission rate from birds to humans is “very, very low” but mortality rate is high.

Ubial said that the DOH is “doing everything to effectively respond to this very first case of avian influenza in the country.”

“With our partners, we are actively disseminating public health advisories on the prevention of transmission of bird flu virus to the human population,” she added.

The secretary urged individuals exposed to the virus to immediately go to the nearest hospital and have themselves tested once they exhibit flu-like symptoms. JPV