Palace Asks for Public Vigilance After Report of Country’s First MERS-CoV Infection

(PNA) — Malacañang has urged the public to remain vigilant and follow the health advisories of the Department of Health (DOH) on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after a Filipina nurse from Saudi Arabia tested positive for the disease.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said 10 individuals have been admitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), six of whom had contact with the nurse during her confinement at a private hospital.

“The laboratory results of the 10 individuals are expected to be released by 10 p.m. today,” he said.

Coloma said that according to the DOH, the nurse afflicted with the MERS-CoV remains in stable condition and doctors at the RITM are continuously monitoring her condition.

The government is intensifying its efforts to prevent the spread of MERS-CoV, he said, adding that 63 of the 224 passengers of Saudi Airlines Flight SV860, which carried the MERS-CoV patient, have been contacted by the DOH.

“Contact tracing is still ongoing to locate the remaining passengers,” he said. (PNA) LAM/PND/EDS