As probe into coronavirus case continues: MCIA takes precaution

CEBU, Philippines —  The Mactan-Cebu International Airport has put precautionary measures in place in an effort to control the potential spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus (nCov) following the entrance of a child suspected to have acquired the virus in Wuhan, China.

The five-year-old boy and his mother are now in quarantine in Cebu City as authorities await the results of the test of the patient’s samples to determine the specific strain the child has acquired after initial tests found the child positive for a non-specific pancoronavirus.

The samples, however, yielded negative results for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

The boy has a history of travel to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China.

At the Mactan airport yesterday, Andrew Harrison, chief executive adviser of GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), said the airport is committed to ensuring the well-being of passengers and its employees, and will work with authorities in monitoring the situation.

He said all airlines have been advised to make a standard in-flight announcement prior to landing at MCIA, advising passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms to self-declare and voluntarily submit to a medical screening by the Bureau of Quarantine upon disembarkation.

For its intensified thermal scanning, the Bureau of Quarantine is on heightened alert and has intensified monitoring of arriving passengers by taking additional thermal scans of passenger body temperatures on the aerobridges of all flights arriving directly from China. This is in addition to the thermal scanning at the Immigration Arrival Level.

There are a total of 36 flights per week from China to Cebu.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been installed at all aerobridges and arrival corridors with passengers being asked to use these facilities. Liquid disinfectant will be sprayed in the aerobridges prior to each flight arrivals.

All airport staff members dealing with passengers upon immediate arrival are required to wear surgical masks as a precautionary measure.

As the virus is understood to be transmitted through contaminated droplets, surgical masks will provide adequate protection.

Harrison said information materials will be displayed prominently at the arrival and departure areas to provide the passengers with ample information on the coronavirus.

The Bureau of Quarantine will maintain primary responsibility in dealing with suspected cases.

In a separate statement, the airport said announcements and reminders will be made on a regular basis and running electronic messages will be displayed around the airport. These messages will be based on guidance material from the Department of Health (DOH) and Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

Screening

Paul Longinos of BOQ-7 said they have fielded additional 20 nurses and four doctors at the airport

This despite the World Health Organization not issuing any advisory on travel and trade restrictions as of yesterday.

The WHO, according to DOH, has maintained that the current cases show a pattern of limited human to human contact. This means that infection can be transmitted but under certain conditions, such as sustained close contact with confirmed cases.

It added that contact with sick animals is also discouraged since investigations still have not isolated the vector or animal that is the course of infection.

DOH-7 reminded the public of preventive measures like proper hand washing, proper nutrition, and avoiding crowded places if not feeling well.

Seeking early consultation also ensures timely treatment and better outcome of cases.

"The situation is still evolving so the public is advised to refrain from sharing unverified information that may cause undue panic and concern. No travel restriction is in place and it is not advised to limit movement and public gatherings. Everyone is encouraged to be vigilant and monitor official sources for further information," DOH-7 said.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to more serious infections such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

City Response

In Cebu City, Mayor Edgardo Labella said they are coordinating closely with DOH in monitoring the case.

The city has also sent personnel to assist the Bureau of Quarantine of DOH in monitoring of passengers arriving at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

“I directed Dr. Daisy Villa to see it to it that there will be proper monitoring of patients, but of course, the first step we should do is coordinate with the Department of Health and send some personnel from the city health to collaborate and coordinate,” Labella said.

“In fact, some of them are in the airport so that immediate reports can be done if there are some suspected coronavirus passengers,” he added.

Villa is the city health officer.

“Ready ang city health, ready na ang quarantine, labi na ang DOH, ug mga identified nga mga hospitals (The city health office is ready, the quarantine is ready, and the DOH and identified hospitals are ready),” Villa said.

Villa reminded the public to take precautionary measures such as washing their hands at all times, avoid people who have respiratory issues, and consult the doctor right away should they experience symptoms of the coronavirus.

The City Council, meanwhile, passed a resolution requesting the 80 barangays in the city to establish their own isolation or quarantine room so that residents who have respiratory inspections can be monitored easily before they are sent to hospitals.

Responsibility

In a report by CNN yesterday, the virus has already claimed nine lives and has infected at least 400 others across China.

Senator Risa Hontiveros cautioned the public against spreading unverified information on a new strain of coronavirus.

“Health authorities are still verifying if this is the same as the 2019-nCoV. In the meantime, I’d like to emphasize that sowing panic will be detrimental to public health,” Hontiveros said.

“We need correct information to get to the people. Kaya huwag tayong magpakalat ng fake news (So we should not spread fake news),” she said further, adding, people should ensure they are reading verified information before sharing anything online. JMO (FREEMAN)