OWWA chief confirms 3rd Pinoy MERS-CoV fatality

(Updated 8:43 p.m.) A 45-year-old Filipina nurse working in Saudi Arabia has died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the third Filipino to perish from the disease.

The latest fatality was confirmed by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Carmelita Dimzon on Thursday.

“Our welfare officer from Riyadh has already confirmed the case,” said Dimzon, as she assured the victim's family of benefits from OWWA since the nurse was an active OWWA member.

“She will be entitled to death benefits, livelihood assistance and scholarship,” Dimzon said.

Before the latest fatality, two other Filipinos in Saudi Arabia had died from the virus – a female nurse last year and a male paramedic in April this year.

Dimzon said it is not yet known if the victim's remains will be repatriated or buried in Riyadh, although he assured the family that OWWA is ready to assist in case of repatriation.

“If her family will decide to bring back the body to the Philippines, OWWA will assist them,” she said.

A report on GMA News' "24 Oras" on Thursday said the Filipina's family wants to have her body returned to the Philippines.

Reports said the Filipina nurse, who was from Negros Occidental, died on Tuesday at the King Fadh Medical City.

First reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, MERS is a novel virus often referred to as the Middle East version of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS. Symptoms of MERS include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. —with Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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