Embassy says Pinoy reported to have MERS-CoV in Saudi

A Filipino has been infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia, the Philippine embassy there said.

In a June 11 news release posted on its website Friday, the embassy mentioned a "newly reported case" of a Filipino infected with MERS-CoV in Riyadh.

The news release said this prompted the embassy to reiterate its previous advisories to Filipinos there to observe health guidelines issued by Saudi and Philippine health authorities.

"Following a newly-reported case of a Filipino national infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) in Riyadh, the Embassy would like to reiterate its previous advisories to Filipinos, especially workers in the healthcare sector, to continue taking all necessary precautions and observe health guidelines issued by the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) and the DOH against MERS-CoV," it said.

The embassy did not give further details on the new case, but the Saudi Ministry of Health indicated in its June 5 update that an "expat" in Riyadh was among the new cases.

It was not immediately clear if this was the new case the Philippine embassy was referring to.

The Saudi MOH's June 5 update had described the expat as 58 years old, and that the expat's condition is "critical."

Also, it said the expat had not come into contact with suspected or confirmed cases in the community or hospitals.

Protocols

The embassy advised Filipino workers in the health care sector to "strictly follow infection control protocols in their workplaces."

"Despite the considerable decrease in MERS-CoV incidence in Saudi Arabia in recent months, maintaining high vigilance and caution against all types of infectious diseases (including Ebola Virus Disease) is necessary to ensure the safety of loved ones, friends and colleagues, both here in the Kingdom and in the Philippines," it said.

The embassy said Filipinos who may have been tested or infected with the virus are "strongly encouraged to report their conditions to the Embassy as soon as possible."

It assured information it receives with regard to MERS-CoV cases or any other infectious diseases among Filipinos will remain confidential.

Those who want to make a report or to obtain more information may call the Embassy hotlines at 0569893301 and 0515046362, or via email lmadiong@riyadhpe.com. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News

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