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MANILA (AFP) — The Philippines Thursday called on the public to keep their distance from boxer Manny Pacquiao at a homecoming parade which the government had asked him to postpone amid fears he could spread swine flu.
The six-time world champion -- largely considered the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter -- has insisted he plans to fly home from the United States as scheduled on Friday following his demolition of Briton Ricky Hatton.
Health authorities, acting on World Health Organization advice, appealed to Pacquiao on Wednesday to quarantine himself and delay his flight by five days to allow time for the boxer and his large entourage to be given the all-clear.
The "Pac Man" was told President Gloria Arroyo, who has pledged a city-wide parade and a national holiday to celebrate his victory, would not give him an audience at the presidential palace before next week.
Pacquiao flying home on schedule would be "a nightmare for all public health practitioners", said Anthony Golez, spokesman for Arroyo and the government's National Disaster Coordinating Council.
The main concern was the prospect of Pacquiao or his entourage infecting large numbers of people during the planned parade.
Due to his huge popularity, it would be difficult to restrain people from glad-handing the boxer, Golez told reporters.
He said Filipinos should play safe by practising "social distancing" by staying at least a metre (1.1 yards) away from Pacquiao.
"Even though we are excited to see Manny Pacquiao and congratulate him, this would pose a problem for public health workers who would have to conduct contact tracing" for signs of the Influenza A(H1N)1, he added.
"Even Hercules, even Arnold Schwarzenegger caught flu. Even if you are considered as the strongest man alive here, nobody is invincible to diseases or viruses or bacteria," Golez said.
"We in public health consider this as a very serious matter," he added.
Pacquiao won Hatton's IBO light-welterweight title in spectacular fashion at the weekend, knocking his opponent out inside two rounds.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
MANILA (AFP) — The Philippines Thursday called on the public to keep their distance from boxer Manny Pacquiao at a homecoming parade which the government had asked him to postpone amid fears he could spread swine flu.
The six-time world champion -- largely considered the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter -- has insisted he plans to fly home from the United States as scheduled on Friday following his demolition of Briton Ricky Hatton.
Health authorities, acting on World Health Organization advice, appealed to Pacquiao on Wednesday to quarantine himself and delay his flight by five days to allow time for the boxer and his large entourage to be given the all-clear.
The "Pac Man" was told President Gloria Arroyo, who has pledged a city-wide parade and a national holiday to celebrate his victory, would not give him an audience at the presidential palace before next week.
Pacquiao flying home on schedule would be "a nightmare for all public health practitioners", said Anthony Golez, spokesman for Arroyo and the government's National Disaster Coordinating Council.
The main concern was the prospect of Pacquiao or his entourage infecting large numbers of people during the planned parade.
Due to his huge popularity, it would be difficult to restrain people from glad-handing the boxer, Golez told reporters.
He said Filipinos should play safe by practising "social distancing" by staying at least a metre (1.1 yards) away from Pacquiao.
"Even though we are excited to see Manny Pacquiao and congratulate him, this would pose a problem for public health workers who would have to conduct contact tracing" for signs of the Influenza A(H1N)1, he added.
"Even Hercules, even Arnold Schwarzenegger caught flu. Even if you are considered as the strongest man alive here, nobody is invincible to diseases or viruses or bacteria," Golez said.
"We in public health consider this as a very serious matter," he added.
Pacquiao won Hatton's IBO light-welterweight title in spectacular fashion at the weekend, knocking his opponent out inside two rounds.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
and the incredible hulk.
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