The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has advised Filipino health professionals, particularly nurses, caregivers and doctors, working abroad to extra precautions against the new strain of influenza virus. The DFA advice came as the Consulate General in Hong Kong reported Tuesday that three Filipino guests at the Metropark Hotel in Wanchai were among the hotel guests included in the seven-day quarantine imposed by HK health authorities. Hong Kong's Department of Health imposed the quarantine as a temporary emergency measure after a Mexican guest was taken to a hospital after he was found coughing, suffering from sore throat and other symptons similar to flue. The quarantine will last until Friday. Among those quarantined was a Filipino, her Australian husband and another Filipina from Cebu. Edgardo Espiritu, ambassador the the United Kingdom, said on Tuesday that healthcare workers, particularly nurses and caregivers, are vulnerable to infection as they handle patients that may be suffering from various diseases, including A/H1N1 virus. In a press statement, the DFA said tthe Philippine Nurses Association of UK helped distribute the embassy's advisory and other UK Government reminders on the A/H1N1 outbreak. The Philippine embassy in London also has advised all Filipinos in the United Kingdom and Ireland to take precautionary measures following reported cases of A/H1N1 in the two countries. As of May 3, the World Health Organization has reported 15 cases of A/H1N1 in the United Kingdom and one in Ireland. There are 200,000 Filipinos in the United Kingdom and 12,000 in Ireland. The DFA said the advice should also be heeded by other Filipino healh professionals woking in Middle East and other contries.
