Negrense nurse quarantined in Saudi
BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — A Negrense nurse was put under quarantine in Saudi Arabia for testing and observation after she was suspected of contacting the dreaded Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus.
According to the husband, who is from Negros Occidental, his wife is currently confined in the intensive care unit in a hospital in Riyadh, where she was working.
The husband said that he is optimistic his wife will be tested negative for the viral infection, as he cited the high-tech hospital facilities which could help in her wife's recovery.
He noted that there are also other nurses in the hospital in Saudi Arabia who were put under quarantine and are also confined in the ICU for suspected cases.
Symptoms of MERS-CoV include fever, cough, shortness of breath and diarrhea.
Earlier, six Overseas Filipino Workers were put under quarantined in the provincial hospitals in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, but all six Negrense patients were tested negative for the viral infection.
Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang declared Negros Occidental as MERS free, however, he urged the public to be vigilant against the deadly infection.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health-6 had stressed that all 22 suspected MERS-CoV cases in Western Visayas are negative.
Dr. Glen Alonsabe, head of the DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, pointed out that all people coming from the Middle East were checked upon their arrival in the country, as he stressed that it doesn't mean that all people who are flying in from the Middle East are infected with MERS-CoV. /JMD (FREEMAN)
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