MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday that it would confirm if a student from the Far Eastern University (FEU) has the A(H1N1) influenza virus by Monday.

This comes even after FEU Medical Director Dr. Blanca Destura told ABS-CBN News on Saturday about the female FEU student that, she said, has tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

“We have the result now but the announcement will be made tomorrow,” said Dr. Eric Tayag, chief of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center, in a phone interview on ABS-CBN News Channel show “Dateline Philippines Sunday.”

“Right now we are contact tracing for other students from East Asia,” he added.

Last week, three De La Salle University students tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

The DOH chief epidemiologist also noted that all H1N1 cases in the country are mild.

“We don’t have severe cases that have been reported so far. That’s good news but because the virus is a novel influenza virus, we are monitoring the activity of the influenza here in the country,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, there are 21,940 people infected with the A(H1N1) virus in 69 countries, which have resulted in 125 deaths.

In the Philippines, there are 33 people with the A(H1N1) virus, the DOH reported.

Self-quarantine, self monitor

Tayag then reminded all those who are coming from abroad to undergo self-quarantine for the next 10 days upon arrival.

“They have to self-monitor. That means they have to stay at home and that they have to report any illness through our hotlines. So that applies not only for students but for everyone.”

He detailed that there have been arrangements with foreign visitors who have official business in the Philippines regarding the precautions they have to take in the course of their visit in the country.

He also mentioned that there is no need to wear face masks in schools. He just advised that whoever feels sick, “this means fever cough or sore throat, should remain at home and call if they want to know if there are other procedures that they have to implement while they are sick.”

As for those who want to be tested in a hospital, Tayag said they have priorities for testing which include “those who have flu-like symptoms and have history of travel recently to a country where these cases are being reported, and those who are contacts of confirmed cases.”

Other than that, those who go to hospitals will be advised to stay home or if they want confinement, then procedures may or may not be done to confirm the influenza A(H1N1).”

Meanwhile, when asked if public hospitals are equipped to treat the H1N1 virus just like private hospitals, Tayag said that “even local hospitals will be able to take care of patients if and when patients will be referred to them.”

He reasoned that the “only requirement is patients will have to be confined in the hospital, that they have a separate room and that infection control procedures are observed.”