Researcher, colleagues undergo tests at VSMMC

ANOTHER passenger from Saudi Airlines 860 and three other persons who had contact with her submitted themselves for laboratory testing at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) the other day.

Dr. Dino Caing, Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (RESU-7) member, said the Saudia Airlines 860 passenger, a biodiversity researcher, had a connecting flight from Manila to Cebu last February 2.

“She (Saudia 860 passenger) then went to Bohol together with other biodiversity researchers. Supposedly, she was the only that was told to undergo a laboratory test but the three others who had close contact with her decided to submit for laboratory tests too,” Caing told Cebu Daily News.

Caing said the lab test results will be released by the VSMMC today. The four of them haven’t manifested any symptoms of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Corona Virus (MERS-Cov).

MERS-Cov is a highly fatal respiratory illness presenting influenza-like illness characterized by fever, cough, and often with diarrhea.
Caing said the four biodiversity researchers were not confined at VSMMC but are under self quarantine following Department of Health (DOH-7) guidelines.

A 59-year old Italian tourist who was among the passengers of Saudi Airlines 860 who took the flight from Manila to Cebu last February 2 was already located in Boracay by the National Epidemiology Center the other day.

Caing said the Italian tourist underwent a laboratory test in Manila and was found negative of the disease.

Last Friday, the 29-year old Cebuana nurse who also submitted for laboratory test at VSMCC was found negative of MERS- Cov.
Caing said the finding showed that Central Visayas is still MERS-Cov free.

Caing urged the public to continually observe proper hygiene and wash their hands to avoid contracting MERS-Cov.