No MERS-CoV case in Central Visayas yet

7 patients test negative;  swab tests available at Vicente Sotto Medical Center

SIX persons in Cebu and one in Bohol have tested negative for the infectious viral respiratory disease MERS-CoV, health officials said.

“Central Visayas is still MERS-CoV-free. We are always on heightened alert to check passengers coming in and out of airport and ports,” Department of Health (DOH-7) Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas told reporters yesterday.

Reynan Cimafranca, Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU-7) chief, reiterated that they were ready to handle Middle East respiratory syndrome – coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases.

Patients experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath and diarrhea may go to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for nasopharyngeal (nose) and oropharyngeal (mouth) swab tests.

Tests are for free, but only for patients who either traveled from other countries or were exposed to MERS-CoV patients.

“Not anybody can go there and have themselves tested,” Bernadas said.

The government hospital has 10 negative pressure rooms that can accommodate 20 patients. Additional patients may be accommodated at the Eversley Child’s Sanitarium in Mandaue City.

“Personnel are all trained on case management, specimen collection and testing. We have negative pressure rooms at VSMMC,” Cimafranca said.

The  isolation room has a ventilation system that allows air to flow into, but not escape from, the room.

Bernadas said  two adults, who submitted themselves for testing after experiencing flu-like symptoms, have been in isolation since Monday.

“They came from an international travel, not from Middle East countries but they had a stopover in South Korea,” Bernadas told reporters. A MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea has killed 15 and infected 150 others as of June 15.

The two patients tested negative for the virus yesterday and “will be discharged anytime today,” Bernadas said.

Since last week, Bernadas said 7 people – 6 from Cebu and 1 from Bohol – have undergone swab tests. All came back negative.

NO NEED TO PANIC

The health officials said there is no need to panic even after a 36-year-old foreigner tested positive for MERS-CoV in Luzon.

“Instead, keep calm and be vigilant,” Cimafranca said.

As of yesterday, no order for contact tracing has been received from DOH central office to trace those who came in close contact with the MERS-CoV patient. Such an order is usually received two or three days after the case is confirmed, Cimafranca said.

MERS is passed from person to person in close contact as well as from camels to humans. The virus is not airborne.

Cimafranca advised the public to take vitamins and get enough sleep and rest to boost immunity against the virus.

“If you experience symptoms, then you should go to the doctor for an immediate check-up,” he added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said a typical case of MERS includes fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. It could be mistaken for pneumonia.

Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure while some patients have organ failure, especially of the kidneys, or septic shock.

Cimafranca also advised travelers to be honest and declare any symptom they might be experiencing.

At the Mactan Cebu International Airport, international passengers are required to fill up a health declaration card before landing. They have to pass through two thermal digital scans to detect high temperature.

At present, there are three thermal scanners provided by the Bureau of Quarantine at the airport. A “fast-response” team is also ready to transport anybody suspected of being infected.

“We are constantly alert in ensuring that entry of the infectious diseases is immediately detected,” terminal operator GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. said in a statement.  Airport officials are working closely with DOH and the Bureau of Quarantine to ensure public health safety. /With Correspondents Vanessa Claire Lucero and Melissa Q. Cabahug