MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday advised Filipinos in the Middle East to take precautionary measures against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Corona Virus (MERS-CoV).
The World Health Organization said MERS-CoV has so far infected 243 worldwide and killed 93 since March 2012. There is no vaccine for the disease and the source is still unknown.
DFA and DOH released the following guidelines for protection against the disease:
1. Practice proper hand hygiene always, by washing your hands with soap or hand rubs with alcohol before and after eating; before and after handling, cooking and preparing food; after coughing, sneezing and using the toilets; and before and before and after touching animals.
2. Practice proper cough etiquette by covering your mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing. Use a facial tissue when coughing or sneezing and cover your mouth and nose with it. Dispose the tissue in a waste basket.
3. Avoid contact with farm and domesticated animals, including camels.
4. Avoid contact with sick or infected with MERS-CoV. If you have respiratory illness, stay home and wear a surgical mask to protect your family members.
5. If you are a health worker, strictly follow infection control protocols in your work.
6. Visit your doctor, a hospital or health facility immediately if symptoms of MERS-CoV manifest itself, including, persistent coughing, and other.
7. If you were in close contact with a confirmed MERS-CoV patient, comply with local health regulations and postpone any trip abroad until after test results are negative.
8. Practice healthy habits such as regular exercise, balanced and nutritional diet, and adequate sleep of at least eight hours, as it would help strengthen the body’s immunity.
The state agencies advised Filipinos not to believe in rumors alleging that authorities from the United Arab Emirates urged people to stay away for 72 hours from places such as malls, beaches hospitals, parks and other locations believed to be “hotspots for the new killing virus.†The Health Authority of Abu Dhabi denied the rumor, DFA and DOH said. There is no declaration yet of an outbreak and travel restrictions.
