11 suspected nCoV cases monitored in Noth Luzon

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines  – Eleven persons in the Cordilleras and Cagayan Valley are being monitored for suspected novel coronavirus (nCoV).

Two persons are under investigation (PUIs) in Benguet and one each from Mountain Province and Baguio City, acting director Amelita Pangilinan of the Department of Health (DOH)-Cordillera Administrative Region announced on Friday.

Pangilinan said the four did not manifest symptoms of the flu virus, but submitted themselves for quarantine after coming home from a vacation from Hong Kong on separate dates.

She said they are waiting for the results of the test conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

In Abra, provincial health officer Maria Cristina Valera-Cabrera said three women, who also traveled to Hong Kong recently, manifested mild symptoms of nCoV.

Cabrera said the three are under self-quarantine.

An isolation room has been readied at the Abra Provincial Hospital for nCoV patients.

Abra Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos ordered the creation of a task force to address the threat of nCoV.

In Cagayan Valley, a mother and her son who traveled to Macau and arrived from Hong Kong on Jan. 29 manifested symptoms of nCoV.

The DOH regional office said the patients are under isolation at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center.

DOH-Cagayan Valley director Rio Magpantay said a 29-year-old domestic worker from Hong Kong was confined at the Southern Isabela Medical Center in Santiago City on Thursday after she manifested symptoms of the flu virus. 

Another PUI arrived in Isabela on Jan. 20.

Not nCoV patients

Magpantay clarified that PUIs are not considered nCoV patients until they tested positive for the flu virus. 

“We reiterate our affirmation on the absence of any case of nCoV in Cagayan Valley. News of confirmed cases circulating in various platforms of media remain as speculations without verification from our office,” Magpantay said.