Cebuana ‘negative’ of MERS-CoV

CEBU, Philippines - Health authorities have allowed a Cebuana person under investigation (PUI) for possible Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) infection to stay at home after she tested negative of the deadly viral disease.

This, as the Department of Health-Central Visayas said they still have to locate an Italian tourist who is also considered a PUI.

MERS-CoV, a viral disease discovered in 2012, has entered the country this year via a Filipina nurse from Saudi Arabia.

The PUI from Cebu City was among in the plane with the nurse who tested positive of MERS-CoV upon arriving home.

On the Cebuana PUI, DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas said the results came out yesterday after samples were obtained from her the night before.

Regional Epidemio-logy and Surveillance Unit Chief Dino Caing stressed that while the woman did not display primary symptoms of MERS-CoV such as fever, cough and pneumonia, they would continue observing her.

“She will still be monitored and will be subject for follow up even if asymptomatic,” Caing said.

The woman is likewise prohibited from joining social gatherings to reduce the risk of her spreading the virus.

Meanwhile, health authorities have sought the help of the Bureau of Immigration in checking if the Italian tourist, a fellow airplane passenger of the Filipino nurse, has left the country or not as well as to trace the places in the country the foreign national had been to.

The hotel contact number that the tourist declared in the checklist of the Bureau of Quarantine could not be reached, Regional Epidemiologist Rennan Cimafranca said.

They found out that the hotel matched two establishments with a similar name and that they learned the foreign PUI has already checked out last February 5 after checking in on February 1.— Jessa J. Agua/RHM (FREEMAN)