The patient’s throat swab tested positive for A(H1N1) virus, according to results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). He is now in isolation at the WVMC.Two more positive cases were detected in Bacolod City, the DoH said.

The patients are both males, ages 7 and 8 years old, who came from the United States. They are isolated at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City.

The patients in Bacolod City have completed their medication and do not show any sign of symptoms anymore. They will be released from home treatment soon if the results of the second swab turn negative.

Since May 1, Western Visayas has recorded 4 positive A(H1N1) cases. The total A(H1N1) infections in the country totaled 311 cases.

Dr. Jessie Glenn Alonsabe, DoH regional epidemiologist, said close monitoring and surveillance are being conducted in the areas where the three new cases were detected.

Alonsabe said the whole family members of the patient were advised to be admitted in the hospital or undergo home quarantine.

“Although they were found positive for the virus, they all showed mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat.

Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city government has activated the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTS) to help in the contact tracing and surveillance.

Dr. Urminico Baronda, city health officer, said barangay officials and City Health Office (CHO) personnel are helping trace the persons who came in close contact with seaman.

“There should be no cause for alarm because we are joining hands with the DoH and the City Health Office in containing the virus and prevent a community outbreak. As the statistics show, the mortality rate of A(H1N1) virus is only 0.5% worldwide,” Mabilog said.

The barangay captain of the Iloilo City village where the first A(H1N1) flu patient resided said they learned of the positive case through Dr. Teresita Chu of the CHO.

The barangay official said they met city health officials Wednesday morning to discuss the proper measures to be taken.

He said they will fully cooperate with CHO and the DoH to closely monitor the community.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the barangay hall was transformed into a monitoring station by CHO and DOH 6 personnel.

Any person who came in close contact with the patient is advised to report to health officials at the barangay hall as soon as they exhibit flu-like symptoms.

Alonsabe said the public should observe hygienic practices such as washing of hands and cough and sneezing etiquette to prevent the virus from spreading.

Alonsabe said the local chief executives in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo and their respective health officers were informed and provided technical and logistical assistance to prevent community level spread of the flu.

Baronda said the DoH has enough Tamiflu which can help cure the A(H1N1) flu.

“The DoH has the Tamiflu stocks because we are controlling the dispensation of the medicine to avoid the virus from becoming resistant to the drug,” Baronda said.

A recent memorandum from the DoH central office ordered drug stores in the country not to dispense Tamiflu capsules to buyers sans doctor’s prescription.

Alonsabe said the DoH central office also issued a memorandum requiring all private and public hospitals to put isolation areas for A(H1N1) patients.