2 more suspected MERS cases under isolation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) has placed under isolation two more people suspected of being afflicted with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin yesterday reported two co-passengers of a Filipina nurse, who was confirmed positive for MERS-CoV, are now under isolation in separate hospitals after manifesting symptoms of the potentially deadly infection.

“Two of the co-passengers are being closely observed with one considered a ‘patient under investigation’ and another as ‘MERS-CoV suspect case,’” Garin said during a press conference.

Garin said a person who has a history of travel from the Middle East, had contact with a person confirmed to be infected and manifested symptoms like fever and diarrhea can be considered a “patient under investigation.”

A patient under investigation can later be considered as a “suspect case” if there would be clinical findings such as abnormal breathing sounds, Garin said.

Health officials said the two patients returned to the country on board the same Saudia Flight 860 as the Filipina nurse, who is still confined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Garin said there is no need to bring the two patients to the RITM since the local hospitals where they are confined are capable of managing their medical condition.

“RITM experts will just be going to the patients if it is necessary to take swab and blood samples so we could also limit their travel,” Garin pointed out.

Garin further reported that 10 of the patients who were previously placed under observation after having contact with the confirmed MERS-CoV case tested negative and have been sent home.

But she said one of the 11 is now considered a “probable case” of MERS-CoV due to findings in the patient’s X-ray. The patient is still confined and will undergo other laboratory tests.

So far, the DOH was able to locate 115 of the 220 co-passengers of the Filipina nurse. Of the 115 who have been contacted, 86 tested negative from the infection while the results of the others are still being awaited.

Garin said contact tracing of the co-passengers ended yesterday, given the 14-day incubation period of the virus.

Those who have not manifested symptoms after 14 days are considered negative for MERS-CoV.

“If they manifest similar symptoms after 14 days of having contact with a confirmed case, definitely it will not be MERS-CoV,” she said.

Health experts, however, said medical workers who had contact with the Filipina nurse would be placed under observation until Feb. 24.

A total of 56 close contacts have been tested. They are mostly health workers from the Evangelista Medical Specialty Hospital and relatives of the first confirmed MERS-CoV case in the country.

At this time, the condition of the Filipina nurse is continuously improving and doctors are just checking her “viral load,” Garin said.

She said RITM is now coordinating with the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in monitoring the condition of the nurse, who is pregnant.

Garin also belied reports that a Filipina domestic helper who returned from Jordan has been confirmed infected with MERS-CoV and had died.

Garin said Jordan has no reported deaths due to MERS-CoV.

Garin also said they are not likely to change their safety protocol yet since having symptoms is the only way to detect MERS-CoV upon arriving in the country.