Villagomez: NMI still safe from bird flu

Acting Department of Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez assured the public Thursday that the CNMI remains free from the bird flu virus.

The acting secretary assured the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigation Committee during his confirmation hearing that no case of avian flu has been reported in the CNMI.

Villagomez said that, although there has been no reported case of human-to-human transfer of the virus anywhere in the world, DPH remains on its toes and is closely monitoring the bird flu situation, which has now spread from Asia to Europe.

The official did not discount the possibility of the flu eventually getting into the CNMI because of the islands’ proximity to neighboring countries that have been affected by the H5N1 virus.

If that happens, Villagomez said the department has a comprehensive plan to handle the situation and its officials meet every Friday morning for updates and further plans on the matter.

Reports last week said that the Ministry of China has disclosed its 12th laboratory confirmed case of human infection of the H5N1 avian influenza virus when a 20-year-old female farmer developed symptoms of the flu in January. The farmer died early this February. China has a total of eight cases of bird flu—all fatal.

According to World Health Organization records as of this month, there are a total of 169 recorded human infections of the flu, where 91 have already died. Countries affected with the fatal virus now include Vietnam with 42 cases, Indonesia, 18; Thailand, 14; China, eight; Turkey and Cambodia, four; and Iraq, one.

Earlier, Division of Public Health medical director Richard Brostrom raised concerns that the Commonwealth Health Center is not big enough to accommodate patients if an outbreak occur. However, he assured that DPH had taken measures in preparation for the pandemic since 2003.

Negative flow rooms in the hospital are now prepared, policies for infection control are now updated and enforced, and the Intensive Care Unit is undergoing expansion, said Brostrom.

DPH is also making sure it has the ability to diagnose cases as quickly as possible in order to prevent any unnecessary spread of disease. In addition, DPH is mapping out disaster plans for the outbreak and stockpiling medication for treatment and prevention of the disease.

Health officials and representatives from the CNMI, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, American Samoa, Independent State of Samoa, Fiji School of Medicine, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community gathered last month on Saipan to compare notes on bird flu preparedness.

The U.S. Office of Insular Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsored the two-day conference on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Regional Strategic Planning Meeting held at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. (Marconi Calindas)