Date: May 2003

SARS Update - May 19, 2003

Health Secretary, Manuel Dayrit reported on May 15, that two more confirmed cases of SARS in the Philippines had been determined. One victim of the illness was a 34-year old female who had recently returned from Taiwan and the other was a 63-year old businessman who had arrived in the country from Singapore in mid-April. Both had since recovered.

As of May 16 the Philippines had had 12 confirmed cases of the SARS virus of which two have died and four have recovered. Of those suspected of carrying the virus, there have been a total of 82 admissions of which 75 were subsequently discharged. A total of 9 persons remain under observation.

The World Health Organization has recommended exit screening for all international travelers leaving the Philippines but has stopped short of recommending a ban on travel to this country. However, Bahrain and Turkey have been added to the list of countries that are banning visitors from the Philippines for the time being.

The start of the new school year could be delayed in order to give educational institutions more time to prepare for possible SARS outbreaks. The Department of Health has made the recommendation to delay the June start by two weeks.

Primary and secondary schooling is due to resume either in the week of June 2 or June 9. Some post-secondary colleges are already commencing their new school year in the coming week, 19 May.

 

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