Pinoys in Saudi reminded to take precautions vs. MERS-CoV

Filipinos in Saudi Arabia were reminded Thursday to continue taking precautions against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), after a Filipino caregiver who returned to Manila tested positive for the virus.

The embassy, in a news release posted on the Official Gazette website, said this applies especially to workers in the healthcare sector.

"Filipino workers in the healthcare sector should strictly follow infection control protocols in their workplaces," it said. "They are also strongly encouraged to take advantage of voluntary MERS-CoV screening tests available through their employers, especially if they intend to travel back to the Philippines."

It added Filipinos who take the screening tests should wait for their results before traveling and to bring a copy of their test results for Philippine health authorities.

On Wednesday, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said a 37-year-old female nurse who returned to the Philippines had tested positive for the MERS-CoV virus.

The nurse, who showed no initial symptoms of MERS-CoV, spent the night at the house of a colleague in Bulacan then went home to General Santos City.

The embassy stressed the importance of maintaining high vigilance and caution against all infectious diseases, including Ebola virus disease.

It urged Filipinos who may have been tested or infected with the virus to report their conditions to the embassy soonest.

"Information received by the Embassy with regard to MERS-CoV virus cases (or any other infectious diseases like Ebola) among Filipinos will remain confidential," it said.

Those who want to make a report or to obtain more information may call the embassy hotline at 051 504 6362. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News

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