Stewardess, son cleared of SARS

CEBU CITY — The Central Visayas (Region 7) office of the Department of Health said a stewardess and her child, who were admitted to the North General Hospital in Talamban last Wednesday for exhibiting suspected symptoms of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), are now both out of danger.

DOH-Region 7 epidemiologist Juanito Zuasula said there is nothing to worry about, although both the 29-year-old Cebuana, identified only as SC, and her one-year-old son still have to undergo another round of chest X-rays and blood tests.

The woman is an international flight stewardess frequently assigned on the Hong Kong-Cebu route. Hong Kong is one of the countries severely affected by SARS.

Seven other people, who have had close contact with mother and son, are now under quarantine. Zuasula, however, said they have not yet exhibited SARS symptoms.

Medical workers, who first attended to the stewardess, were also placed under quarantine but they have already been released, according to Chong Hua Hospital director for general services Villacer Ceredon.

Ceredon said placing the hospital personnel in isolation was just a precautionary measure.

Even though the stewardess and her son have been declared out of danger, residents of Barangay Lawaan in Talisay City are worried that a 20-year-old Cebuana, who arrived from Hong Kong last May 3, may have brought the SARS virus with her.

Barangay councilman Joy Tumulak said that although the woman, identified only as RC, did not show any SARS symptoms like high fever or cough, residents are alarmed over the fact that she was in Hong Kong recently.

RC went to Hong Kong last April 14 to visit her boyfriend who lives there. Officials of the Mactan Cebu International Airport cleared her when she returned home last May 3.

A day after she arrived, RC went shopping, attended church and even enrolled in school, Tumulak said, adding that he has informed the Talisay City government about the matter. — Freeman News Service