Main points

Tropical Storm Ketsana

Health Situation Assessment

Health Cluster Response

Critical Constraints

• Several areas have limited access to health services and aid
• Fluidity of evacuation camp situation hinders accurate mapping, assessment, and disease surveillance
• Prolonged high-risk exposure due to retained flood water in many areas is expected

Urgent Needs

• Scaling up access of essential health services to all affected
• Improve case-based disease surveillance for communicable diseases and health and humanitarian service coverage in evacuation centers
• Increase resources aimed at containing the spread of water-borne and vector-borne diseases
• Ensuring a return to functionality of primary care facilities and re-establishment of essential health care activities, including vaccination

Typhoon Parma

Health Situation Assessment

• Rapid needs assessment by UN-GOP team still ongoing.

• The top morbidities based preliminary data from 74 consultations (58 adult, 16 pediatric) in 2 Municipalities affected are: wounds, upper respiratory tract infection, skin infections, hypertension, and others (muscle pains, headache, acute gastroenteritis).

• Php 498M (USD 10.3 M) in damage to 6 hospitals, 1 Regional office, 4 rural health units, and 2 barangay health stations have been reported. Region 1 Medical Center, the main trauma center for the region, reported damages amounting to more than Php 456M (USD 9.5M). Damage to records, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, OR, ER, DR, blood bank, OPD facilities and equipment amounted to more than PhP 453M (USD 9.4M). Emergency room operations and ward admissions have resumed but serious cases and those requiring surgery are referred to private facilities or to the provincial hospital.

Health Cluster Response

• The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, together with representatives from IOM, WFP, WHO, UNFPA, and DOH will conduct a rapid needs assessment of the affected areas in Regions I, III, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
• DOH has deployed 1 medical and 1 assessment team to 6 Evacuation Centers in CAR.
• More than Php 2.72 M (USD 566 679) has been given by DOH in augmented drugs, medicines and supplies.
• UNFPA has distributed 430 hygiene kits to Region III and is doing rapid assessments in Baguio City and the Province of Benguet.

Critical Constraints

• Massive flooding in the affected areas from the collapse of dikes and release of water from major dams in the affected regions is expected to continue early into the coming week.

• Thirty eight (38) municipalities and three (3) in Region I are still flooded as of 10:00 PM, October 11, 2009: 23 and 3 cities in Pangasinan; 9 in La Union, 1 in Ilocos Sur and 5 in Ilocos Norte.

• A total of fifty six (56) road sections and nine (9) bridges were affected which were rendered impassable or hardly passable.

Urgent Needs

• Continued assessment of the health situation in the affected communities and in evacuation centers to determine the most urgent health needs

Source: World Health Organization http://www.wpro.who.int/philippines/home/Sitrep+12.htm

In view of the current swine flu outbreak in Mexico, US and Canada, the ASEAN Secretariat Working Group for One Health (ASEC-ONE Health) has come up with the following general precautionary measures to prevent any type of influenza or any respiratory illness:

1. WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
Wash your hands with soap and water many times of the day. Dry your hands after washing. There is no substitute for hand washing. However, when water is not available, you may use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitisers.

2. AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE OR MOUTH
Influenza viruses are often spread when a person touches surfaces that are contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

3. AVOID CLOSE CONTACT
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Temporarily, refrain from shaking hands with or kissing other persons while there are reported outbreaks of influenza.

4. STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK
If possible, stay home and avoid crowded places when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

5. COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent spread of the virus. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Discard your used tissue in the waste basket. You may be asked to put on a surgical mask to protect others.

6. KEEP DISTANCE
When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

7. PRACTICE OTHER GOOD HEALTH HABITS
- Refrain from smoking.
- Get enough sleep.
- Have regular exercise; be physically active.
- Manage your stress.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Eat nutritious food.

8. CONSULT DOCTOR IF YOU ARE SICK
Seek medical care when you have signs of serious illness such as difficulty of breathing, confusion, severe vomiting.

9. DEFER TRAVEL IF YOU ARE SICK
If you are ill, you should refrain from getting on an airplane or other forms of public transport. In case you can not postpone your trip, consult a doctor if you feel ill upon your return.

10. LISTEN TO YOUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES
Keep yourself updated of the situation on the influenza outbreak and on health measures advised by your health authorities.

Stress or burn out is known to be eighty percent significant to all major illnesses including cancer. Few of its many causes are deadlines, pressures, problems at home or work, crowds, noise, pain, traffic, overwork, lack of sleep, smoking, and alcohol. Stress results in the lowering of the immune system’s ability to protect you from illnesses and cancers.

Everyone experience stress from time to time, but frequent stress is more serious and long term stress can wear out your body.

So, how can you know that you’re under stress? The symptoms are depression, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, low-stress tolerance, nervous exhaustion, insomnia, panic attacks, increase in blood pressure, sweaty palms, tense muscles specially shoulder muscles and even tooth grinding.

Its time to sit back and relax. Here are several effective ways on how to battle stress.

• Think positive in every situation, try to see the positive sides of things  and learn to make the best of it. Always see difficulties as a challenge and learn from it.

• Think about something else for a time. Diversion is not a crime. That will help the brain to rest and your emotions to calm down.

• Talk to a friend. Telling someone how or what you feel can help ease the situation. Even just by knowing that you have someone to talk to. Talking to a friend releases the tension.

• Sometimes you need to temporary leave a threatening situation, try to see beautiful places that can calm you makes you forget your problems and calm down.

• Learn to laugh at some problems. Laughter is still the best medicine, even for stress.

• Stretching your muscles can help move a circulation made slower by the situation, so you can think better. Massage muscles which have tensed up, try to move exercise your jaw by moving it up and down then left and right. This will help relax the jaw muscles.

• Go outside and walk. Try walking in a park, and held your head up high, stretch your hands, take a deep breathe and relax

• A change in diet is needed to help restore a sickly immune system. Fresh   fruit and vegetables. Eating a diet of 60-70% fruits and vegetables will really help you.

• Do not eat high carbohydrates and saturated fats. Instead, eat the slow burning proteins. Avoid coffee, chocolate, tobacco and liquor.

As of 06:00 GMT, 13 May 2009, 33 countries have officially reported 5728 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 2059 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 56 deaths. The United States has reported 3009 laboratory confirmed human cases, including three deaths. Canada has reported 358 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Costa Rica has reported eight laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Brazil (8), China (3, comprising 1 in China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and 2 in mainland China), Colombia (6), Cuba (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (4), Finland (2), France (13), Germany (12), Guatemala (3), Ireland (1), Israel (7), Italy (9), Japan (4), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (7), Norway (2), Panama (29), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (98), Sweden (2), Switzerland (1), Thailand (2), and the United Kingdom (68).

WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Individuals who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travelers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases, including influenza.

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO web site on a regular basis.

As of 06:00 GMT, 11 May 2009, 30 countries have officially reported 4694 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 1626 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 48 deaths. The United States has reported 2532 laboratory confirmed human cases, including three deaths. Canada has reported 284 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Costa Rica has reported eight laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Brazil (8), China (2, comprising 1 in China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and 1 in mainland China), Colombia (3), Denmark (1), El Salvador (4), France (13), Germany (11), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (7), Italy (9), Japan (4), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (7), Norway (2), Panama (15), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (95), Sweden (2), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (47).

WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Individuals who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travelers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases, including influenza.

Twenty-four countries have officially reported 2,371 cases of A/H1N1 influenza infection as of 18:00 GMT Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a latest update.

Mexico has reported 1,112 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 42 deaths. The United States has reported 896 laboratory confirmed human cases, including two deaths.

The following governments have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths: Austria (1), Canada (201), Hong Kong, China (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (5), Germany (10), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (6), Italy (5), Netherlands (2), New Zealand (5), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (81), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and Britain (32). (PNA/Xinhua)

As of 06:00 GMT, 6 May 2009, 22 countries have officially reported 1516 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.Mexico has reported 822 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths. The United States has reported 403 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Austria (1), Canada (165), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (9), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (57), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (27).

It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.

There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

As of 18:00 GMT, 4 May 2009, 21 countries have officially reported 1085 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The United States has reported 286 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Austria (1), Canada (101), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (54), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (18).

It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.

There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

As of 1600 GMT, 3 May 2009, 18 countries have officially reported 898 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths. The higher number of cases from Mexico in the past 48 hours reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens. The United States Government has reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Austria (1), Canada (85), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15).

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.

Canada on 2 May reported the identification of the A(H1N1) virus in a swine herd in Alberta. It is highly probable that the pigs were exposed to the virus from a Canadian farm worker recently returned from Mexico, who had exhibited flu-like symptoms and had contact with the pigs. There is no indication of virus adaptation through transfer from human to pigs at this time.

There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of 19:15 GMT, 28 April 2009, seven countries have officially reported cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. The United States Government has reported 64 laboratory confirmed human cases, with no deaths. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection including seven deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Canada (6), New Zealand (3), the United Kingdom (2), Israel (2) and Spain (2).

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.

There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.