All hospitals in Iloilo City have been strongly encouraged to amplify their countermeasures for infection control and prevention with the aim of containing the spread of the emergent COVID-19 variants known as ‘FLiRT’. Mayor Jerry Treñas has recently issued an executive order in accord with the advisory released by the Department of Health via the Bureau of Quarantine. This new order enforces tighter screening protocols at all entry points for travelers coming from regions that have reported FLiRT infections.
The freshly instated guidelines by the mayor’s office underscore the increased alert status in the metropolis due to the new threat posed by the COVID-19 FLiRT variants. These variants stem from the JN.1 lineage and have captured global attention as they have been detected in the Philippines among other regions.
The FLiRT series includes worrying variants like KP.2, which are particularly menacing due to the presence of mutations in the virus’ spike protein. These variances could potentially enhance the virulence of the virus by enabling it to dodge immunity and attach itself more firmly to host cells, possibly resulting in a higher rate of infections.
Symptoms caused by the FLiRT strains bear resemblance to those seen in earlier strains of COVID-19. These include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal complications. Mayor Treñas’ memorandum instructs for meticulous screening, specifically for visitors flying in from countries where the FLiRT variants have surfaced.
On top of that, public cooperation has been sought to ensure wearing masks in crowded places, including for frontline staff interacting with numerous clients.
Taking early action is encouraged to manage emergent health problems more effectively. Therefore, people exhibiting flu-like symptoms are advised to waste no time in consulting with the Iloilo City Health Office district centers or their preferred healthcare providers.
With the increasing cases of FLiRT variants, the Iloilo City Health Office has alerted the public to remain extra vigilant. The Health Office has reported a two-week growth rate of 325 percent in FLiRT infections, up significantly from the earlier rate of just 33 percent. The healthcare utilization rate also saw an increase to 21.62% on May 27 from 16.16% on May 23, indicating that the pandemic is far from over in the region.
The entire community has been urged to stay watchful and avoid becoming complacent, especially those with existing health conditions or those who have not yet been vaccinated, despite the viral manifestation of the new subvariant not being severe.
Source: https://www.panaynews.net/hospitals-urged-to-strengthen-measures-vs-flirt-variants/