ON SOARING SWINE FLU TALLY
Villar to embassies: Lead in shielding OFWs

NACIONALISTA Party President Manny Villar urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) particularly the Philippine embassies and consulates in affected countries to proactively lead in the intensification of precautionary measures against the H1N1 (swine) flu virus and the preparation of medical and all forms of assistance to Filipino migrant workers.

The senator made the call after the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic threat level to five in a six-step scale, signifying threat to "all humanity" as the number of cases soared.

"With our migrant workers scattered in different countries across the globe, we need to take an active stance in halting its spread especially among our citizens eking out a living overseas who are most threatened," Villar said.

At the same time, the senator urged Filipino communities abroad to vigorously support the implementation of appropriate precautionary measures and assistance while maintaining an atmosphere of calm amid the threat.

Villar offered his helpline 09174226800 which is dedicated for distressed OFWs for the quick reporting of the flu-related cases involving Filipino migrant workers.

Swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease which affects pigs and can jump to humans, with symptoms such as fever, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. But the 2009 H1N1 virus is a hybrid of swine, avian and human strains, with no vaccine yet developed for it.

The number of confirmed cases has increased more than 30 percent with 331 people diagnosed with the virus, WHO said Friday. It has spread to 11 countries.