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One more city in Philippines declares pertussis outbreak
MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The government of Iloilo, a city in central Philippines, on Monday declared an outbreak of pertussis after it confirmed seven out of 15 reported cases, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Iloilo is the third city to declare an outbreak of pertussis, or whopping cough, after Quezon and Pasig, two cities in the capital region, announced last week that they hav.....»»
Cheap diabetes drug reduces risk of long Covid: study
People who took a cheap diabetes drug after testing positive for Covid-19 had a 40 percent lower risk of getting long Covid, a US-based study said Friday. The finding was hailed as a potential "landmark" in the fight against the still little-understood condition, which the World Health Organization estimates affects one in 10 people who get Covid. The study said it was the first randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial — considered the gold standard in research — to show that taking a drug can prevent long Covid. It tested a drug called metformin, which was originally developed from the French lilac flower, and has been the most common medication used to treat type 2 diabetes across the world for decades. This means the drug is known to be safe, as well as being inexpensive and widely available. The study covered 1,126 overweight or obese people in the United States, half receiving metformin and half a placebo in the days after testing positive for Covid. After 10 months, 35 of the participants who took metformin were diagnosed with long Covid, compared to 58 for the placebo group, representing a 40 percent reduction in risk. The trial was conducted between December 2020 and January 2022, meaning it included the Omicron variant, which research has suggested causes long Covid at a lower rate than previous strains. The team behind the COVID-OUT trial had previously shown that metformin reduced coronavirus patients' risk of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and death by more than 40 percent. Carolyn Bramante, a researcher at the University of Minnesota and the new study's lead author, told AFP that "our data show that metformin reduces the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus" in patients. The research was published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. 'Profound' Jeremy Faust, a doctor at Harvard Medical School not involved the study, said in a linked comment piece that if confirmed, the findings "are profound and potentially landmark" for long Covid. Frances Williams, an epidemiology professor at King's College London, pointed out that 564 people had to take the drug "to prevent 23 hypothetical cases". "This means 24 people would need to take metformin to prevent one case of long Covid," she said, adding that this was a lot of drugs to stop such a poorly understood condition. The researchers cautioned that they did not test metformin on people who had already been diagnosed with long Covid, so the findings did not mean it could be used to treat the condition. The study also found that the antiparasitic drug ivermectin, which was the subject of misinformation throughout the pandemic, as well as the antidepressant fluvoxamine did not prevent long Covid. Tens of millions of people have been estimated to have had long Covid, in which numerous and sometimes debilitating symptoms last or recur three months after infection that can then drag on for years. The most common symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness and a lack of mental clarity called brain fog. The post Cheap diabetes drug reduces risk of long Covid: study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Covid-19 is here to stay
No doubt waves of jubilation and sighs of relief greeted the recent announcement from the World Health Organization saying Covid-19 was no longer a global health emergency. At a meeting on the pandemic held last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesuss told a press conference that the pandemic had been observed to be on a downward trend. “This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we know it before Covid-19,” said Tedros. “Our emergency committee recommended to me to end the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.” Despite the welcome announcement, the WHO official noted that the virus has not stopped spreading, although with a lower level of concern, and therefore, continues to be a global health threat. People should not take the recent WHO pronouncement as a signal to let one’s guard down and return to their usual pre-pandemic lifestyles. It has been observed that even before the seemingly welcome pronouncement, many have long discarded their masks, joined big crowds or assemblies, and have been quite careless in paying attention to hygienic practices. Saying that the virus will continue to transmit, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said that this is seen in terms of the virus’s evolution every day “in our communities, age vulnerabilities, protection vulnerabilities, and many other things.” The Department of Health, for its part, said the public should not be confident since the threat remains. “The WHO did not say the pandemic is over, “said DoH Officer-in-Charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire. As early as January of this year, the DoH official already said that if the state of a public health emergency is lifted, the country “will remain cautious and vigilant” and will still be imposing the same restrictions to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus. Although health authorities have not yet seen any reason to ring the alarm bells, a rise in Covid-19 cases has been reported lately. A DoH bulletin issued last week said new Covid-19 cases in the Philippines rose 112 percent in the first week of May. There were 9,465 additional infections, 50 severe and critical. An average of 1,352 cases a day were recorded in the past week. No need to panic, though, as the situation today has been manageable because of recent advances in technology and the availability of vaccines and bed space in hospitals, unlike the first months of the pandemic. The DoH attributed this state of affairs to “our effective and collaborative responses to recover and re-open our economy fully.” So why the increase in the number of cases? Many cite the recent incidences of long weekends that translate to more occasions involving reunions or meetings with families and friends, the opening up of more public spaces like malls, transport stations, cinemas and concert and fun event venues that are virtual crowd-drawers. The disease is not going away anytime soon and is here to stay, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhave, head of the WHO’s program on emerging diseases. “We just need to make sure we are tracking the virus because it will continue to evolve.” And we must all do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more hospital confinements and, worse, deaths. Since it was declared a pandemic in early 2020, there have been more than 765 million confirmed cases and 7 million deaths worldwide. “Covid-19 continues to leave deep scars,” warns Tedros. “Those scars must serve as permanent reminders of the potential for new viruses to emerge with devastating consequences.” Despite being vaccinated, I got infected with COVID-19 early on during my stint as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs last year. The good thing was I quickly recovered and returned to work after my self-imposed quarantine ended. Recently, there have been reports of outbreaks in areas where people gather, particularly in crowded indoor settings where people talk loudly or breathe heavily, like gyms and music or choir practices. Be involved. Wear your mask again if you have dropped the habit. As health experts suggest, avoid the 3Cs: closed spaces, crowded locations, and close contact with people, especially in places with inadequate ventilation. Better, meet your friends outside. Isolate yourself when sick and follow your doctor’s prescriptions. Get vaccine/booster shots when necessary. The life you save may be your own. The post Covid-19 is here to stay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shifting baselines
On this same date last 2020, there were 218 new COVID-19 cases detected, bringing to 5,878 the total number of confirmed infections in the country......»»
EOC reveals: Feb to March 2021 records more cases, less deaths than Jun to Jul 2020
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has revealed that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in the city has relatively improved compared to last year in terms of deaths. In the data released by the EOC, the city recorded a total of 6,138 confirmed cases from June to July 2020, […] The post EOC reveals: Feb to March 2021 records more cases, less deaths than Jun to Jul 2020 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
COVID-19 cases hit peak 2020 level
Confirmed COVID cases nationwide have reached the same peak recorded during the first wave in July last year, the Department of Health reported yesterday......»»
A year after the Luzon lockdown
On 17 March 2020, the government imposed a Luzon-wide lockdown as cases of Covid-19 in the country spiked from six to 140 in a span of one week, with 12 deaths. Almost a year later today, 13 March, confirmed cases have ballooned to over 600,000 with more than 12,000 deaths. Local government officials have declared […] The post A year after the Luzon lockdown appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFA’s COVID-19 tally among Filipinos abroad: 49 new cases, 8 recoveries
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday reported 49 new confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases, 8 new recoveries, and no new fatality among Filipinos abroad. MANILA BULLETIN FILE The latest figures bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases involving overseas Filipinos to 13,828; a total of 4,055 are undergoing treatment; 8,828 have recovered, and 945 died due to coronavirus infections.To date, the total number of countries and territories with confirmed cases among Filipinos remains at 84.Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in February 2020, the Middle East and Africa remain as the combined regions with the most number of Filipinos infected with the disease at 7,881. Of that number, 2,521 are active cases, 4,754 have recovered or discharged from hospitals, and a total of 606 deaths......»»
DoH: 1,453 new COVID-19 cases detected in PH
BY ANALOU DE VERA There were 1,453 new cases of COVID-19 detected nationwide, the Department of Health (DoH) reported on Wednesday. Since January 2020, the total number of confirmed cases in the country stood at 492,700, of which 24,478 or five percent are still active or those who are still being […].....»»
Cebu City continues with single-digit number of new cases in December
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Cebu City seems to be having a good start this December. This as the city, on December 2, 2020, recorded its fifth consecutive day of having single-digit number of new confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases with eight as of December 2, 2020, data from the regional health office showed. In the December 1 bulletin, […] The post Cebu City continues with single-digit number of new cases in December appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Only 1 new COVID-19 case in Cebu City on Dec. 1
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Cebu City only logged one new confirmed case of the coronavirus on the first day of December. The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7), in its latest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) bulletin, reported a total of 36 new confirmed cases of the infection in the region on December 1, 2020. But only […] The post Only 1 new COVID-19 case in Cebu City on Dec. 1 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
COVID-19 tally nears 430,000
COVID-19 tally nears 430,000 Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) – November 30, 2020 – 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ tally of confirmed coronavirus cases is inching closer to the 430,000 mark, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday. With 2,076 new cases reported by the DOH, the COVID-19 caseload has jumped to 429,864. It […].....»»
Taiwan is crucial to the global fight against cybercrime
Since emerging in late 2019, COVID-19 has evolved into a global pandemic. According to World Health Organization statistics, as of September 30, 2020, there were more than 33.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 1 million related deaths worldwide......»»
Tarlac logs 103 new Covid-19 recoveries
RECOVERED. A total of 103 patients in Tarlac have recovered from Covid-19, the highest number reported in a single day as confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday (Nov. 20, 2020). This brought the total recoveries to 866, which lowered the active cases to 258. (Infographic by Tarlac Covid-19 Task Force) TARLAC CITY, […].....»»
Cebu City’s active cases rise back to 209
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The number of active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Cebu City jumped back to 209 as of November 13, 2020. This developed after the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7), in its latest COVID-19 bulletin, reported more new confirmed cases than recoveries. Data from DOH-7 showed that the city […] The post Cebu City’s active cases rise back to 209 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Only 2 new COVID cases in Cebu City on Oct. 25
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) recorded only two new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Cebu City. In its latest COVID-19 bulletin issued on Sunday, October 25, 2020, DOH-7 logged a total of 44 new cases of the infection for the entire region. But only two of […] The post Only 2 new COVID cases in Cebu City on Oct. 25 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Minglanilla’s active cases ‘slightly rise’ to 26
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The number of active coronavirus cases in Minglanilla town in southern Cebu has slightly risen to 26 as of October 21, 2020, local officials announced. This developed after health officials there recorded more new confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases than recoveries in the past few days. To recall, Minglanilla’s number […] The post Minglanilla’s active cases ‘slightly rise’ to 26 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Addressing mental health amid a pandemic
BETTER DAYS Senator Sonny Angara Mental health has historically been a difficult subject to talk about in Philippine society. Many of us, no doubt, have our own stories, personal or otherwise, of how difficult it is to seek help. In fact, in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, an August, 2020, analysis of many studies on the matter confirmed that the low utilization of mental health services among Filipinos could be attributed in part to the stigma associated with mental health issues, with resilience and self-reliance becoming possible alternate coping strategies. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has made mental health an even bigger issue. The quarantine, the economic effects of the pandemic, and the anxieties brought about by the virus’ unpredictability have had a negative effect on the mental health of many Filipinos. Although we as a country are consistently rated to be in the Top 5 of a global optimism index, according to the DOH, the calls for help have been increasing. According to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), their helpline received about 400 calls monthly from May, 2019, to February, 2020. That’s an average of 13 to 15 calls daily. By March, 672 calls were serviced, and this grew steadily in the following months, until there were 1,034 calls in July – and 440 for the half of August. These double the monthly average from March to August to 876 calls, or 32 to 37 calls daily. Many government and private mental health services are available for people who are seeking help or just someone to talk to. Aside from the NCMH crisis hotline, the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation has confidential crisis lines and a referral system to partnered psychologists. The foundation is also a hub for prevention, recognition, and treatment of depression. The Philippine Mental Health Association also offers similar services, and universities like UST, UP Diliman, and Ateneo de Manila have their own mental health service organizations. Some, like Ateneo’s Center for Family Ministries have affordable or negotiable fees. Online resources like the Silakbo.Ph website have listings for many other mental health service providers outside of the NCR. In fact, many organizations have already partnered with the Department of Health (DOH); perhaps more of them should be invited to the table to plan new policies, projects, and initiatives that will address the growing number of mental health cases. The DOH is also encouraging people to learn more about general mental health through free e-learning courses translated into Filipino. The source material is from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) QualityRights initiative, which is a global project that aims to help participants improve their own mental health, learn how to support their loved ones and communities, and gain knowledge and skills to tackle mental health issues. Clearly, we need to reassess and adapt to the fact that more Filipinos are now looking for mental health services and treatments. This is why I am seeking to amend Republic Act 11036, the Mental Health Act, particularly its existing chapter on “Rights of Service Users and Other Stakeholders.” Our proposed amendment seek to give health service users the right to immediately receive compensation benefits and special financial assistance they are entitled to under law, should they sustain temporary or permanent mental disability in the line of duty or by reason of a person’s office or position. This is an important amendment, as the Mental Health Act requires that PhilHealth provide insurance packages to patients with mental health conditions, and that access to medicines is ensured. With the observation of World Mental Health Day last October 10, it is important to remember the DOH’s theme for this year, “Mental Health for All: Unifying Voices for Greater Investment and Access.” This theme encourages that we open conversations on the various challenges that our mental health care system faces every day, such as social stigma and limited funding. In fact, the simple act of marking the day itself is important. It shows those who are suffering that we see them, and care for them. It tells others who are hiding their issues that it is perfectly normal to seek help. And most of all, it encourages the whole world to stand in solidarity in recognition of the need for all of society to help those with mental health issues. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 16 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 7 as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. .....»»
Sara Duterte reimposes curfew, liquor ban in Davao City
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 October) – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has ordered the reimposition of the curfew and liquor ban, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting October 15 to December 31, 2020, amid the surge in the number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the city. During her live interview over […].....»»
All 21 active cases in Daanbantayan are in Maya
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The municipality of Daanbantayan logged four new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Sunday, September 20, 2020, raising the total number of active infections in the town to 21. In its recent bulletin, the town said the new patients were not close contacts of previously confirmed cases. They were […] The post All 21 active cases in Daanbantayan are in Maya appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»