Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III on Tuesday said, "The Department of Health is now into an aggressive year-round, all-out war against dengue as more cases are expected this year than the previous year.” Duque also urged the residents of Payatas B to strictly follow the 4-S campaign of the DOH against dengue. (1 July 2009, Payatas B, Quezon City)

01 July 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today reported that the Department of Health (DOH) is further bolstering its mitigation efforts against Influenza A(H1N1) in light of the anticipated rise of cases in the country.

On June 30, Duque convened another DOH Command Conference attended by members of the A (H1N1) Task Force, the DOH regional health directors, the chiefs of hospitals of all the 72 DOH-retained hospitals in the country, and some representatives from the private sector.

“As we anticipate more cases in the coming months, we must institute effective mitigation measures to save lives and prevent deaths and to reduce the impact of the pandemic to our nation and the economy,” Duque said.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III (2nd from left) and Health Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan (leftmost) during a meeting with some registered patients of the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (JNRMH). The Department of Health Executive Committee recently approved the conversion of food ration to cash allowance in the amount of P75.00 to patients, headed by  "GRUPO"  President Mr. Celerino Estrella . Also present during the meeting was JNRMH Director Dr. Edgardo Javillonar. ( partly hidden). (29 June 2009, DOH-OSEC)

25 June 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today reported that 85 more A (H1N1) patients have fully recovered. This new number brings the total count of fully recovered cases to 536 or 74% of the total sum of reported confirmed mild cases since May 21.

Duque also disclosed that there are 123 more confirmed cases, all mild in nature, reported today. These new additional cases bring the total of confirmed cases to 727.

The 123 new cases involved 71 males and 52 females. The age range of these cases is 6-59 years old, with 19 as median age. One hundred twenty (120) of the new cases are Filipinos and the remaining three (3) are foreigners. Twenty-one (21 of these cases have a history of travel to a country affected with the novel virus.

24 June 2009
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today reported that 43 more A(H1N1) confirmed (mild) cases have fully recovered, bringing the total of fully recovered patients to 464. This figure represents 77% of the total confirmed cases recorded since May 21.

Duque also said that there are 131 more confirmed cases, all mild in nature, reported today. These new additional cases bring the sum of confirmed A(H1N1) cases to 604.

The new cases involved 66 females and 65 males. The age range of these cases is 2-67 years old, with 16 as median age. One hundred seventeen (117) of these cases are Filipinos, the remaining 14 are foreigners. Nineteen (19) of said cases have a history of travel to a country affected with the novel virus.

23 June 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today welcomed the support of SMART Communications, Inc. in the government’s continuing efforts to fight influenza A (H1N1).  SMART represented by its Public Affairs Group Head, Mr. Ramon R. Isberto, unveiled the company’s SMART Health Watch Hotline 155 which can be used by the public to access the most recent information and updates on the novel virus A (H1N1).