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MANILA, Philippines ? The skyrocketing number of Influenza A(H1N1) cases in Thailand has reached pandemic proportions and should now become a cause for alarm for the Philippine delegation to the 1st Asian Martial Arts Games.
But the Philippine Olympic Committee, which will deploy 30 athletes and 12 coaches and officials from nine combat sports to the Bangkok event on August 1-9, is not about to push the panic button just yet.
POC president Jose ?Peping'' Cojuangco Jr. said if AMAG organizers conduct
the same procedure Singapore had done in the 1st Asian Youth Games earlier this month, the RP delegation should not be disturbed by the flu outbreak.
Based on Internet reports, the public health ministry in Bangkok confirmed the total deaths from A(H1N1) stood at 44, almost double the 24 deaths reported last week.
The ministry also announced the country?s total A(H1N1) cases were recorded at 6,776 in its weekly report.
?'m sure the Thais saw how the Singaporeans managed to do it during the Asian Youth Games,'' said Cojuangco. ?And if the Thais do the same, I think we will be safe.''
The RP delegation is scheduled to leave for Bangkok on Friday and will compete in nine combat disciplines?muay, kick-boxing, kurash, jujitsu, judo, taekwondo, karatedo, wushu and kung-fu and pencak silat?against the best fighters in Asia.
According to Cojuangco, health officials in Singapore monitored people going in and out of the competition venues, officials and athletes village and main press center with thermal scanners aside from getting the temperature of each individual twice a day.
Cojuangco said people who showed flu-like symptoms were immediately isolated by health authorities and put them under quarantine for a couple of days.
Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping, however, presented a different point of view.
?Singapore is different from Thailand. The Singaporeans are strict,'' said Angping. ?If I had a choice, I might not send our athletes there for health risk reasons. But what can I do, I might be misinterpreted again if I go against their (POC officials) wishes.''
The RP delegation will have judo chief Dave Carter as chef de mission in the AMAG, where a total of 112 gold medals are up for grabs. The participation of the national team will be bankrolled by the PSC.
