DOH: Foreigner in PH tests positive for MERS

A foreigner has tested positive for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed.

The patient traveled from the Middle East, and is currently in isolation at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and is recovering, Health Secretary Janette Garin said on Monday, July 6.

The DOH said the male foreigner had begun developing the symptoms of MERS – coughing and fever – on July 2. He was tested around 11:30 am on Saturday, July 4.

The tests yielded a positive result around 5 pm.

Eight other close contacts of the patient have been identified, with one currently in isolation for testing after she developed coughs.

Contact tracing is currently ongoing to identify other people whom the patient may have had close contact with.

DOH spokesperson Lyndon Lee Suy said the patient did not exhibit any symptoms of MERS when he entered the Philippines, which explains why the thermal scanners did not raise alarm.

Garin urged the public to remain calm, explaining that there is no documented case of community transmission of the virus.

“We are reminding the public that there is no documented community transmission of MERS. Transmission usually happens inside the hospital,” Garin said.

MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus is a fatal, influenza-like illness characterized by fever and cough, often with diarrhea.

Source: rappler.com