American Gi’s, Swine Flu-Free
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines- American forces arriving in the Philippines to partake in the Balikatan exercises and other activities related to the Visiting Forces Agreement do not carry communicable diseases, including the dreaded Influenza A (H1N1) virus, a US military commander told local reporters.
US Air Force Maj. John Hutcheson, public affairs chief of the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JSOTFP), said that American soldiers undergo routine medical checkups before they are sent to the Philippines from their bases in Japan and Guam.
“No US service member assigned at the JSOTFP tested positive for H1N1 and no US service member assigned to JSOTFP has been suspected of having swine flu,” Hutcheson said.
The American officer issued the assurance amid public concern over the increasing number of cases of A(H1N1) infection in the country, which stands currently at 26 and counting.
Celso Bayabos, Zamboanga City Airport manager, told reporters that arriving US forces are not currently subjected to thermal scanners because the equipment is not yet available.
He added that the Air Transportation Office (ATO) simply coordinates with the Bureau of Quarantine and the Philippine Air Force to verify the health status of arriving US soldiers.
“Aside from the fact that we don’t have thermal scanner and the funds to purchase it, we don’t have any jurisdiction over them (US Forces),” Bayabos said.
But, Hutcheson said he can assure that US soldiers arriving here are free of any communicable diseases.
“The US military is doing everything possible to ensure that soldiers who are deployed to the Philippines are healthy and ready to perform their mission,” he asserted.
According to Hutcheson, among the steps taken by the US military is for “all of their troops (to) undergo a pre-deployment medical screening.”
“If needed, for any type of communicable disease, a member will be quarantined or if deemed necessary, transported out of the country via US military medical assets. Troops showing symptoms of sickness will not be deployed,” Hutcheson finished.