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Before anything else, acting Health Secretary Janette Garin said there is no reason to panic over the latest case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the country.
“Garin assured that the Department of Health (DOH) is not letting its guard down in the fight against MERS-CoV. She said all ports of entry in the country are being closely watched by authorities,” reports Kathlyn dela Cruz on ABS-CBNnews.com.
Garin also explained: “While MERS-CoV has a mortality of 30%, human-to-human transmission is not that easy. Hence, there is no reason to panic.”
The report recalled: “A 32-year-old Filipina nurse who arrived from Saudi Arabia on February 1 has tested positive for MERS-CoV.
She is now confined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).” Prior to being admitted to RITM, the nurse had been admitted at Evangelista Medical Specialty Center in San Pedro, Laguna. She was transferred to RITM when her condition didn’t improve.
READ: Pinay nurse from Saudi positive for MERS-CoV, confined at RITM
Garin said the nurse also happens to be four to five weeks pregnant. She is now “in stable condition and is being closely monitored by health workers.”
The report noted: “Of the 56 people who have have come in contact with the Filipina nurse, Garin said 11 manifested symptoms of the disease. They were admitted to RITM on February 10 and 11. Three of the 56 are family contacts while the others are from the hospital where the nurse was previously admitted.”
The 11 symptomatic patients includes the husband of the nurse. They will have to undergo an additional round of tests before they can be declared negative for MERS-CoV.
For anyone to be considered free of MERS-CoV, the person should have at least three tests taken in a span of two days showing a negative result.
Garin then called on other passengers of the Saudia flight that the nurse was in to contact the DOH through the agency’s hotlines: 711-1001 or 711-1002. These folks are advised to get themselves tested.
Photo: paketch (Panoromio)
