MANILA - Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Tuesday urged officials and members of the media to stop describing the influenza A(H1N1) virus as dreaded, deadly or fatal.

"Let us not call it dreaded, deadly or fatal. It's not true. This is a mild form of influenza illness. We should be responsible in giving information," Duque told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."

He said the scary adjectives used to describe the new influenza virus may create an "epidemic of misinformation," which, he said, is more frightening.

Duque blamed the panic at the Calumpang Elementary School in Marikina City to the misinformation about the new influenza virus.

"We are becoming a part of the problem instead of becoming a part of the solution," the health secretary said.

The elementary school's classes were suspended on Monday after parents panicked over rumors of an infected Grade 6 female pupil.

It was later learned that the pupil, who was rushed to a hospital in Manila, was stricken with diphtheria, not A(H1N1).

Still not alarming

Duque insisted that the rising number of confirmed A(H1N1) cases in the country should not alarm the public. He said the health department has anticipated the new flu virus to spread quickly, just like what's happening in other countries.

"Lahat ng ito ay hahantong sa patuloy na pagtaas ng A(H1N1)... Ang virus na ito ay may kabilisan ang pagkalat (Cases of A(H1N1) will rise.. This virus spreads quickly)," the health secretary said.

He said the DOH is currently monitoring 91 new cases under observation. The cases include those who came into contact with some of the 46 confirmed cases of the new virus.

Duque said that 21 of the 46 confirmed cases have been cleared of the new virus, based on the latest results of their throat swab tests.

The confirmed cases include seven students from the De La Salle University and one from the Far Eastern University.

The Commission on Higher Education has moved the opening of classes in the tertiary level to from June 8 to June 15 because of the A(H1N1) scare.