Pinabulaanan ng Department of Health (DOH) ang ulat ukol sa sinasabing mas mataas na viral load ng COVID-19 sa mga pasyente nitong mas bata ang edad.
Lumabas kasi sa isang pag-aaral sa Estados Unidos na mas mataas daw ang viral load ng mga batang tinamaan ng COVID-19 kumpara sa mga matatandang nasa kritikal ang kondisyon.
“This study reveals that children may be a potential source of contagion in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in spite of milder disease or lack of symptoms, and immune dysregulation is implicated in severe post-infectious MIS-C,” ayon sa naturang research.
Paliwanag ng DOH, bagamat kinikilala nila ang mga ganitong pag-aaral ay kailangan pa rin maging maingat ang publiko sa pagbibigay ng interpretasyon sa wala pa namang matibay na basehang resulta.
“In one particular study, they have discovered that: children younger than 5-years with mild to moderate COVID-19 have high amounts of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in their nasopharynx compared with older children and adults.”
“However, they have also mentioned that their study is limited to detection of viral nucleic acid, rather than infectious virus. Hence, higher viral load in this case does not always mean higher infectivity or contagiousness.”
Nilinaw ng Health department na wala pang pag-aaral dito sa Pilipinas kaugnay ng viral load sa mga bata at matandang tinamaan ng coronavirus disease.
Hindi pa rin daw kinukumpirma ng World Health Organization (WHO) ang posibilidad na mayroon ding katulad na sitwasyon sa iba pang mga bansa.
“Again, we need bigger studies that are peer reviewed before making a definitive conclusion in order to make evidence-based decisions and policies.”
“Rest assured the department continues to work with experts and technical advisory groups so that we can give you the latest updates.”
Ipinaalala ng ahensya ang responsibilidad ng mga magulang na dalhin agad sa doktor o kumonulta sa telemedicine at Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) kung ang kanilang mga anak ay makakaramdam ng sintomas ng COVID-19.
Kakambal daw kasi nito ang agarang imbestigasyon ng local health authorities, pati na ang testing at contact tracing.
“We call on the cooperation of our parents and teachers to educate their children on the minimum public health standards to minimize the spread of COVID-19.”
