MANILA:The Department of he has confirmed its first case of swine flu, prompting health authorities yesterday to urge the public to remain calm but vigilant against influenza A(H1N1) infection.

The patient was a 10-year- old girl who had traveled to Canada and the United States, two of the countries hardest hit by the outbreak, before returning Monday to the Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

The girl, who has been confined in an undisclosed hospital, was tested for A(H1N1) when she developed a fever, cough and sore throat Tuesday in Manila.

“The patient was started on anti-viral and given supportive care,” Duque said. “The patient no longer has fever and cough, but she still has sore throat.”

The Department of Health instructed quarantine officials in airports and seaports around the Philippines to step up monitoring and surveillance of arriving passengers.

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the department was also coordinating with the Department of Education to evaluate if there was a need to postpone the opening of school classes on June 1.

Nervous parents called for a delay after the announcement of the confirmed case, but Villaverde said he believed there was no need.

“There is no community-level outbreak in the Philippines,” he said. “So far, there is no indication whatsoever that we need to postpone the opening of classes.”

Duque called for calm amid the confirmed case, stressing that authorities were on top of the situation.

“We advise the public not to panic,” he said. “There is no community-level outbreak. Measures are being implemented to prevent transmission.

Villaverde said 17 passengers on the girl’s plane back to Manila have been identified and were being contacted to ensure that they observe self-quarantines.

“We are also conducting a more thorough assessment of all the household contacts,” he said. “If there is a need to give them prophylaxis, then we will do so.”

Villaverde advised the public to observe personal hygiene, eat nutritional foods, get enough sleep, drink lots of water and fruit juices, and take vitamins to strengthen their immune systems.

“If you can postpone traveling to other affected areas, that would be good for you,” he said.

The World Health Organization has recorded more than 11,000 cases of confirmed swine flu in 41 countries since April with 85 deaths.

The largest number of victims are in Mexico and the United States.