2 poultry farm workers test negative for bird flu
TDepartment of Health (DOH) said laboratory test results released by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) turned out as negative.
DOH Spokesman Dr. Eric Tayag said they have already been informed of the negative test results for the two "suspect cases".
He said the two farm workers, identified as Aris Rogenio Jimenez of Pedro Sumat Farms and Gerald Paitan Bandico of Arsha Abiline Farms, were discharged from the hospital.
"They have already been told to rest at home," said Tayag.
He said the two were also advised to continue taking the Oseltamivir capsules.
On Tuesday, the DOH disclosed that they have ordered the isolation of two "suspect cases".
This after they had direct contact with the avian flu-afflicted chickens in Pampanga and had manifested flu-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said it has advised all its chapters to closely monitor their respective communities against the virus.
"To halt the spread of the virus, the PRC Chapters all over the country immediately activated its Red Cross 143 volunteers to keep an eye on their areas and report possible bird flu outbreak to the PRC Operations Center," said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon in a statement.
"Through this, the PRC can immediately relay it to the DA and DOH for proper verification and validation," he added.
Gordon said they have also directed their personnel to continuously conduct public awareness campaign about the virus.
"We urge the public to take precautionary measures to avoid the risk of bird flu," said Gordon.