2 under MERS-CoV watch in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Two people in Cebu are currently being watched by health authorities for possible infection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

The Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health in Central Visayas said that one is a Cebuana while the other is an Italian tourist. They were in the same flight with the nurse from Saudi Arabia who tested positive of the disease.

RESU-7 chief Dr. Dino Caing said the female resident of Cebu City was already located by them and is now confined at an undisclosed hospital while the tourist remains at large.

Caing said they were directed by the National Epidemiology Center in Manila to locate the two MERS-CoV persons under investigation. The two were among the 225 passengers on board Saudi Airlines Flight 860 where a nurse tested positive of the dreaded disease.

Caing said the two took a connecting flight from Manila to Cebu on February 1.

The Filipina nurse diagnosed with MERS-CoV is the first confirmed case in the country since the viral illness occurred in 2012. There were, however, Filipino nurses previously diagnosed in the Middle East.

Caing said the public should not to worry about since it is unlikely for these two who are in Cebu to transmit the illness to the people they came in contact with.

 “Lesser ang possibility nga makatakod siya pero we have to take extra preventive measures for assurance na walay MERS-CoV,” he said.

He said he will be coordinating with the management of the Department of Foreign Affairs to locate the second MERS-CoV person under investigation.  (FREEMAN)