AH1N1 in the Philippines

MANILA - Health officials have confirmed the first recorded victim of the dreaded virus of swine influenza in the Philippines, a 10-year-old girl, who arrived in the country a week ago with his parents, to visit their parents.

3rd Secretary Francisco Duque of the Department of Health has confirmed a teleconference with journalists based in Manila late Thursday night from Geneva, Switzerland, where he attends a meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO ) to discuss the disease, formally known as A (H1N1) virus.

However, Duque refused to identify the girl or the hospital where it is limited to protect his privacy and his family.

The announcement was also Duque less than six hours after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told a press conference that the Philippines was still free of the dreaded virus as it welcomed leaders from the health take all necessary measures to prevent its entry into the country.

But Duque and other health officials earlier assurances that they were ready for any eventuality, as they noted that the virus has already managed to “invasion” of neighboring countries like Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan , South Korea and China.

On Friday, Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the Department of Health, National Center of Epidemiology, found that the girl is recovering in hospital, except for a sore throat, which is a symptom of disease.