Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, appearing before a congressional oversight committee on quality, affordable medicines, revealed Monday that the Department of Health (DoH) shifted this week its strategy in fighting the feared flu-like A-H1N1 virus from containment to mitigation which consists of early detection and aggressive case management.

Duque told Sen. Manuel A. Roxas II, oversight committee co-chairman, that this approach has been adopted by the US, England and other developed countries because health personnel could not reach every suspected A-H1N1 patient.

Before Roxas revealed that he is determined to seek the presidency, Duque told Senate reporters that he might seek a senatorial berth in the 2010 presidential election.

“Case under observation. We have work to do. Tingnan natin ang pulso ng bayan. Kung may hamon sa paninilbihan sa ating kababayan, sino ba naman ako upang umatras,’’ told Senate reporters after the committee hearing.

Duque expressed the hope that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) would no longer re-schedule the June 15 opening of classes in the collegiate level because there is nothing to fear about H1N1 viral infection because suspected H1N1 patients in the Philippines are exhibiting only mild symptoms.