The Provincial Health Office in Bohol this week starts implementing measures to block the entry of swine flu virus carriers at the seaports of Ubay, Tubigon, Getafe, Talibon and Jagna; and Tagbilaran City airport .

This came up after Governor Erico Aumentado’s meeting with mayors of Bohol on April 30 at the Governor’s Mansion in Tagbilaran City where representatives from Department of Health regional office came to strengthen and widen information campaign against the entry of swine flu from other countries, especially Mexico, with the cooperation of the mayors and provincial officials.

Bohol Provincial Health Officer Reymoses Cabagnot announced during the meeting that, in coordination with the DOH regional office, they are implementing measures to screen all entry points from travelers infected with swine flu virus by monitoring its symptoms, like fever, through the use of thermal scanner which detects high temperature.

Cabagnot also pointed out the need to put up quarantine areas in Jagna and the towns with seaports.

Governor Erico Aumentado also relayed to the mayors that, through cellphone, DOH-7 Regional Director Susana Madarieta committed to him that Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital- -a regional hospital in Bohol- -will reserve two rooms as isolation area for people who show symptoms of swine flu.

The governor raised concern as the province expects more tourist influx in time for the fiesta month of May and the upcoming Sandugo celebration in July that will showcase the home-coming of Boholanos abroad dubbed as Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibook Kalibutan (TNTK).

Dr. Coralou Kintanar of the DOH Natural Epidemiology Center, for her part, told the mayors that the lines of defense they implement now include screening exit and entry points using thermal scanners, enhanced disease surveillance, promotion of individual hand and respiratory hygiene, social distancing, and infection control with the use of N95 mask- -the one used in protection against SARS.
In worst, scenario, the line of defense is martial law, Kintanar said. (Angeline Valencia/PGMA)

related story