Philippines-Government advise more vegetables and less meat.
MANILA, Philippines – Why wait until September to get your swine flu vaccines? Right now, you can be well armed against the new H1N1 flu virus strain. Just eat more fruits and vegetables, and fish instead of meat and get your daily doses of vitamins A, C, E and zinc.
This was what Health Secretary Francisco Duque III urged the public to do during radio interview broadcast Thursday morning. Filipinos should focus on strengthening their bodies’ immune systems (magpalakas ng resistensya) to help them avoid the flu or its worst effects.
Duque’s interview with broadcaster Korina Sanchez at dzMM was part of the DoH’s campaign against swine flu. In terms of global monitoring, the World Health Organization has raised the Alert Level on swine flu to 5. Level 6 would mean the flu would have reached pandemic levels.
Immune boosters
Former DOH secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan, in a separate interview with Inquirer Health/Science, advised Filipinos to do the following as part of their own personal efforts to "boost their immunity against viruses":
Get daily doses of 10,000 units of Vitamin A, 1,000 mg of Vitamin C, 400 international units of Vitamin E, 30 mg of Zinc, 200 micrograms of Selenium and 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil, three times a day.
Galvez-Tan, who is a vegetarian, also added that a person should take one teaspoon or 3,500 mg of sinta herb or andrographis and paniculata as tea three times a day, and lagundi tea three times a day.
Galvez-Tan also shared more advice:
• Limit your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates.
• Sleep seven to eight hours a day.
• Eat dark green leafy vegetables and vegetable shoots and fruits, and high fiber foods.
• Engage in physical activity, but take 8 to 12 glasses of water a day.
Abuse of the body
Duque stressed during the radio interview that, especially during these times, individuals should not be abusing their bodies by not getting enough sleep and they should avoid alcohol and stop smoking.
In an text message to Inquirer Science/Health, Mario Capanzana of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute said: "In general, vitamins may help prevent risks for infection."
"Taking Vitamins A, C, E and Zinc are more of a preventive measure than a cure," he said.
Duque also advised people to wash their hands thoroughly. "If possible, for as long as a ’happy birthday’ song," he quipped.
Earlier, the DoH released an advisory asking people to temporarily refrain from "making beso-beso" (bussing on cheeks as a form of greeting) or to shake hands when they meet with other people. The public had also been advised to avoid reporting for work if they didn’t feel well, and to refrain from frequenting crowded spots. They were also reminded to practice the "cough and sneeze etiquette": Cover the nose and mouth with hanky or tissues while coughing or sneezing.
According to the WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response, Phase 5 or Alert Level 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus in at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
As of 18:00 GMT of April 29, nine countries had officially reported 148 cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. The US government has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases, with one death. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection including seven deaths.
Lab-confirmed cases
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths—Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5).
Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.
The WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.
There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.
