Report: Embassy in Riyadh Says Pinoy has MERS Virus
Agence France-Presse file photograph
MANILA – The Philippine Star Digital Edition posted on Sunday morning a report by Pia Lee-Brago about the Philippine embassy in Riyadh confirming that another Filipino has been infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia.
The identity of the latest Filipino MERS victim has been withheld for the meantime.
“With the latest case, the embassy is reiterating its advisory 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 and the Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) to prevent the spread of the disease, which has already killed 10 Filipinos since 2012” the report cited the embassy officials as saying.
“Filipino workers in the healthcare sector should strictly follow infection control protocols in their workplaces,” an advisory posted on the embassy web site said.
“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,” the advisory underscored.
Filipinos who work in the healthcare sector are also advised to follow the infection prevention protocol of hospitals and to seek medical attention should they experience any of the symptoms of the disease, the report stressed.
“Although Saudi Arabia and the Philippines do not require heath clearance, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) wants returning Filipinos to voluntarily undergo medical check up to make sure they do not have any of the symptoms of the disease.”
Filipinos who test positive for MERS are advised to call the embassy hotlines at 0569893301 and 0515046362, or email lmadiong@riyadhpe.com.
In a related development, Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin announced at the weekend that a mapping system is now in place in Arab countries to closely monitor overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who may have contracted MERS.
“We really have positive cases there (Middle East) and we are closely monitoring them. That’s why we keep an eye on all hospitals that have OFWs,” she told journalists.