DFA: Another OFW found positive for MERS-COV

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said the latest Filipino found positive of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a health worker who had direct exposure to patients with the disease.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippine embassy in Riyadh confirmed the new MERS-CoV case involving a Filipino.

The 41-year-old Filipino male worked as a radiologic or X-ray technician in a hospital in Riyadh. He was found positive of the virus sometime in the first week of March and was transferred to one of Saudi’s designated MERS specialist hospitals on March 7 where he has since been confined in the intensive care unit.

“He had direct exposure to MERS patients in the conduct of his work,” Jose said in a press briefing.

Saudi Arabia has a list of accredited hospitals that can accept MERS-CoV patients.

The Saudi Ministry of Health said early this week that a Filipino was among 15 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV registered last week in Saudi Arabia.

Infected were 10 Saudi nationals, two Sudanese, one Yemeni, one Filipino and one Egyptian. Their ages range from 17 to 72.

The DFA confirmed on March 6 that three Filipino female healthcare personnel in Saudi Arabia have contracted MERS-CoV.

Jose said the first case remains under isolation in the hospital staff housing.

“Her latest medical test found her weak, negative, which meant she is no longer positive (of the virus) but still needs further test,” he said.

The second case has been released from the ICU and transferred to the ward section of the hospital. The Filipina is showing good signs of recovery as she can already communicate with her fellow Filipino workers, said Jose.

He said the third patient has been discharged from hospital and placed under home isolation for 14 days.

The Filipina, who reported back to work on March 16, has been declared fully recovered after her latest medical test found her negative of the MERS virus.