4 Philippine nurses have MERS in Saudi

MANILA, Philippines - Four Filipino nurses working in a hospital in Saudi Arabia were infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippine embassy in Riyadh confirmed the report.

Jose said two female nurses, aged 32 and 29, were confined at the intensive care unit, one had been isolated and another placed under observation. 

“Our embassy was assured by the management of the hospital that these Filipinos are being provided the best medical treatment available and that the hospital is well equipped with comprehensive treatment and facilities for MERS-CoV cases,” Jose said in a press briefing.

The DFA withheld the identities of the four nurses and details of their workplace, but Jose said the male nurse is 55 years old and the other is 50.

The Filipinos were exposed to patients in the hospital who were treated for MERS-CoV.

Jose said the hospital management has informed the families of the nurses of their condition.

The DFA reiterated its advisory to Filipinos in Saudi Arabia to take extra precaution, pay attention to their personal hygiene and follow the advisory issued by their local health authorities.

Filipinos working in hospitals were advised to follow the infection prevention protocols of their hospital while those who will experience symptoms were asked to seek immediate treatment.

Filipinos who may have been tested or infected with the virus were also advised to report their condition to the embassy.