Cebuana nurse in Saudi flight tests negative of MERS
A 29-year-old Cebuana nurse who was among the passengers of a Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) flight that was taken by another Filipina nurse who tested positive for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) tested negative of the virus, health officials said yesterday.
Dr. Dino Caing, Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (RESU-7) medical chief, said the Department of Health (DOH) had traced the Cebuana’s whereabouts and managed to conduct tests.
Quarantine
“It is not mandatory for her for to undergo quarantine, but she is still advised for self-quarantine under DOH guidelines,” Caing said.
DOH-7 regional director Dr. Jaime Bernadas said they are still looking for another Saudia passenger, an Italian tourist, who was traced to have checked into a Cebu City hotel on Feb. 2 and checked out on Feb. 5. Bernadas said they will coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration to check his travel records.
MERS-FREE
Bernadas, however, assured the public that Central Visayas is still MERS -CoV free.
MERS-CoV is a highly fatal respiratory illness presenting in influenza-like illness characterized by fever, cough, and often with diarrhea. There is limited data on its transmission but spread of the disease may be possible through direct contact of household members and healthcare providers exposed to confirmed cases.
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