Health chief: Pinay nurse with MERS-CoV in PHL
(Updated 2:05 p.m.) A Filipina nurse who was tested positive for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia has arrived in the Philippines, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said Wednesday.
In the press conference, Ona said the nurse, who arrived last Friday together with a fellow Filipina nurse, was notified of her condition Tuesday noon and was immediately accompanied by personnel from the National Epidemiology Center to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
He said the specimen from the nurse, who was from General Santos City, has been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for further testing and confirmation.
"We should know the results today, siguro mamayang gabi. So parang kino-confirm na natin. However, positive na siya doon sa Saudi Arabia," Ona said.
Ona said the two nurses, arrived in the country via a Saudi Airlines flight. The nurse who tested positive for MERS-CoV is 37 years old while her companion is 49.
2nd nurse
Meanwhile, the second nurse had herself checked at the Lung Center of the Philippines along with her family after learning the medical results of her co-worker. It was learned that the nurse who tested positive for MERS-CoV stayed at the second nurse's home in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, until Tuesday, after which she flew to General Santos City on a Cebu Pacific flight J997.
Both the second nurse and her family tested negative for MERS-CoV, Ona said.
"So as of today, despite the fact na dalawa ang nakalusot, as of now we can still claim na MERS-CoV free [ang Pilipinas]," he added.
As a precaution, all 249 passengers of Saudi Airlines and 143 passengers of Cebu Pacific who had contact with the nurses were informed and advised to undergo examinations.
"We already have the manifest sa Saudi airlines, sa Cebu Pacific hindi pa kumpleto ang manifest," Ona said.
Ona urged all Filipino workers in the Middle East to have themselves tested and to wait for the results before coming home to the Philippines.
"I would like to make a plea lalo na sa ating health workers sa Arabian peninsula. Make sure na bago kayo umuwi dito, hintayin nila ang results ng tests nila," he said. —KBK, GMA News
In the press conference, Ona said the nurse, who arrived last Friday together with a fellow Filipina nurse, was notified of her condition Tuesday noon and was immediately accompanied by personnel from the National Epidemiology Center to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
He said the specimen from the nurse, who was from General Santos City, has been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for further testing and confirmation.
"We should know the results today, siguro mamayang gabi. So parang kino-confirm na natin. However, positive na siya doon sa Saudi Arabia," Ona said.
Ona said the two nurses, arrived in the country via a Saudi Airlines flight. The nurse who tested positive for MERS-CoV is 37 years old while her companion is 49.
2nd nurse
Meanwhile, the second nurse had herself checked at the Lung Center of the Philippines along with her family after learning the medical results of her co-worker. It was learned that the nurse who tested positive for MERS-CoV stayed at the second nurse's home in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, until Tuesday, after which she flew to General Santos City on a Cebu Pacific flight J997.
Both the second nurse and her family tested negative for MERS-CoV, Ona said.
"So as of today, despite the fact na dalawa ang nakalusot, as of now we can still claim na MERS-CoV free [ang Pilipinas]," he added.
As a precaution, all 249 passengers of Saudi Airlines and 143 passengers of Cebu Pacific who had contact with the nurses were informed and advised to undergo examinations.
"We already have the manifest sa Saudi airlines, sa Cebu Pacific hindi pa kumpleto ang manifest," Ona said.
Ona urged all Filipino workers in the Middle East to have themselves tested and to wait for the results before coming home to the Philippines.
"I would like to make a plea lalo na sa ating health workers sa Arabian peninsula. Make sure na bago kayo umuwi dito, hintayin nila ang results ng tests nila," he said. —KBK, GMA News
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