City Convenes Team to Help Monitor Mers-CoV Cases

The Cebu City Government has convened a team of medical experts and city officials to help the Department of Health (DOH)-7 monitor individuals who might be infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-CoV), an official said.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said the city’s disaster team and ambulances have been placed on standby in case the health department needs their assistance.

“We already coordinated with DOH. We told them we are ready if in case we can be of help,” he said.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the public should be guided by announcements made by the health department.

Rama urged passengers from the Middle East to visit the DOH-7 or the Bureau of Quarantine (BQ)-7 to get tested for Mers-CoV.

Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, Cebu Provincial Health Office head, said two probable cases of the Mers-CoV are under observation in the south and midwest of the province.

The overseas Filipino worker from the Middle East who tested positive of the virus had fellow passengers who proceeded to Cebu, she said.

The DOH-7 said 18 of the 19 passengers have been accounted for. One tested negative of the virus while 10 are still under quarantine at the Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu City.

But Genosolango said there’s no need to be alarmed, but only to let the public be aware that this is a serious infection as this is viral in origin and there is no known treatment. (PNA) LAP/EB/

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