All suspected carriers negative: Region 7 is still MERS-CoV-free

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Cebu and Central Visayas need not worry as the region remains free from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus as of yesterday.

This after results of the two patients being observed for possible MERS-CoV infection were found negative, as confirmed by Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief  Renan Cimafranca.

“Yes. The entire country is still free from MERS-CoV... The two pending tests resulted to negative,” Cimafranca said.

Some 23 other suspected patients placed under quarantine in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental were cleared last Wednesday after results of the confirmatory laboratory test showed they are negative for MERS-CoV.

This means the lone quarantined patient in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu will no longer be isolated inside the DOH-run hospital under round-the-clock monitoring of team of health experts. The second patient yesterday declared free from the new type of coronavirus was also released from isolation in Negros Oriental.

Cimafranca added that there was no additional suspected patient under quarantine in any of the medical facilities in Central Visayas.

Meanwhile, RESU and the police have yet to locate the last passenger listed in the manifest of the Etihad Airlines flight EY 424 from Abu Dhabi to Manila last April 15 which has over 400 passengers and crewmembers.

Department of Health Emergency Management Staff chief Dr. Expedito Medalle earlier said they have limited information on the exact address and location of this passenger who just indicated his address as “Cebu City” in the manifest.

Both police and DOH have resorted to social networking sites to no avail as multiple individuals were found to have the same name in Cebu City.

Cimafranca yesterday said they are still searching for the last passenger.

While all 13 patients at VSMMC have already tested negative for MERS-CoV, not all of them were already sent home. Records at VSMMC showed that as of Wednesday, nine were already discharged, a source told The FREEMAN.

However, there was an admission for quarantine yesterday afternoon, the same source said.

VSMMC chief of hospital Dr. Gerardo Aquino, during a briefing Wednesday afternoon in the DOH compound, said that all 13 patients earlier admitted at VSMMC were already allowed to go home pending completion of discharge requirements. — /BRP (FREEMAN)