Vice President and Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) concerns Jejomar C. Binay called Filipinos in the Middle East to take precautionary measures against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome- Corona Virus (MERS-CoV).
“I urge our OFWs in the Middle East to follow the steps prescribed by the DOH. These are easy enough and should go a long way in preventing infection,” Binay said.
The Vice President also urged Filipinos in the region not to panic and confirm reports about the virus with Philippine officials in their area.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet declared that there is a MERS-CoV outbreak or epidemic, so there is no cause for panic. If rumors start to circulate, the best thing to do is to ask your respective embassies or consulates,” he added.
According to the WHO, the virus appears to be circulating widely throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Other countries outside the Arabian Peninsula that have reported cases of MERS include France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom (Europe); Tunisia and Egypt (Africa); Malaysia and the Philippines (Asia); and in the United States of America.
The number of confirmed cases worldwide is recorded at 243, including three deaths. (OVP/WHO/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=241400664535#sthash.dZbZ3Ku1.dpuf
Showing posts with label MERS-CoV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MERS-CoV. Show all posts
Friday, May 23, 2014
Saturday, May 3, 2014
DOH cites OFW for heeding MERS-CoV alert
The Department of Health-6 said the OFW from Jeddah Saudi Arabia who sought consultation here after feeling feverish is a model for others in heeding the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) alert.
Dr. Glen Alonsabe, DOH regional epidemiologist, said that the OFW, a female nurse, went to the Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital and later was placed on quarantine in government facility at the Western Visayas Medical Center for swab tests to be confirmed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, in two or three days.
Alonsabe said in a radio interview that the nurse was recently declared negative of the virus, as confirmed in the results of the swab test.
“The feverish feeling may be due to changes in the weather,” Alonsabe opined.
Earlier, Alonsabe appealed to the public to stop MERS-CoV scare through circulation of unverified text messages which followed news of the OFW’s seeking consultation.
He warned that rumors could harm a person’s reputation, so the DOH is working to verify all information, and is open to queries.
“So far, there is no confirmed positive case of MERS-CoV in Western Visayas, but this should not leave us complacent,” Alonsave said.
He added that all Ilonggo passengers of Etihad Airlines flight EY 0424 that arrived in the country on April 15, were negative for the virus.
MERS-CoV is a communicable disease which may be passed on to another through close contact with a person tested positive.
Other than fever, the symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, and runny nose after two weeks of exposure.
DOH still recommends personal hygiene, hand washing and covering of mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. (ESS/PIA-Iloilo)
See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=911399008443#sthash.vO0gck4c.dpuf
Dr. Glen Alonsabe, DOH regional epidemiologist, said that the OFW, a female nurse, went to the Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital and later was placed on quarantine in government facility at the Western Visayas Medical Center for swab tests to be confirmed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, in two or three days.
Alonsabe said in a radio interview that the nurse was recently declared negative of the virus, as confirmed in the results of the swab test.
“The feverish feeling may be due to changes in the weather,” Alonsabe opined.
Earlier, Alonsabe appealed to the public to stop MERS-CoV scare through circulation of unverified text messages which followed news of the OFW’s seeking consultation.
He warned that rumors could harm a person’s reputation, so the DOH is working to verify all information, and is open to queries.
“So far, there is no confirmed positive case of MERS-CoV in Western Visayas, but this should not leave us complacent,” Alonsave said.
He added that all Ilonggo passengers of Etihad Airlines flight EY 0424 that arrived in the country on April 15, were negative for the virus.
MERS-CoV is a communicable disease which may be passed on to another through close contact with a person tested positive.
Other than fever, the symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, and runny nose after two weeks of exposure.
DOH still recommends personal hygiene, hand washing and covering of mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. (ESS/PIA-Iloilo)
See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=911399008443#sthash.vO0gck4c.dpuf
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