Filipina from Saudi positive for Mers-Cov
Staff Report
MANILA - A nurse who arrived in the Philippines from Saudi Arabia last week has tested positive for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (Mers-Cov), the Health Secretary said on Thursday.
The 37-year-old nurse, identified only as AP, is the Philippines’ second case of Mers-Cov, which has killed nearly 300 people worldwide.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the nurse is now confined at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and that her family has also been quarantined. Her husband is also confined in the same hospital.
The nurse arrived in the country last August 29 from Dammam City in Saudi Arabia. She was with another Filipina nurse on the flight, and had stayed in their house until boarding a Cebu Pacific flight to General Santos last Sunday. The second nurse and her family underwent testing during quarantine and the results were negative, Health Secretary Ona said. The family from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan are set to leave the hospital in Quezon City.
The Department of Health announced that it is tracing all 249 passengers of Saudi Arabian flight 870 to the Philippines. Health department spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said authorities are also trying to contact the 143 passengers of the Cebu Pacific Flight SJ997 that flew with the nurse to General Santos City.
Lee Suy appealed to all the passengers of the two flights to coordinate with the Health department immediately and have themselves tested for Mers-Cov. The passengers are urged to contact DOH hotlines 651-7800 local 2206 to 2207; 0920-9498419; 0915-7725621; and 0922-8841564.
