5 OFWs from Negros Occidental Negative of MERS-CoV
BACOLOD CITY, Feb 17 (PNA) — The five female OFWs from Negros Occidental who were in the plane boarded by the Filipino nurse tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were found negative of the virus.
This was confirmed Tuesday by Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang, who said there was no viral infection based on the swab samples taken from the four.
Tumimbang added that the fifth Negrense, who was tested at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital here Tuesday, was also found negative.
The patient has no symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and diarrhea, after the 14-day incubation period.
“If there are no symptoms after 14 days, then there’s no MERS,” Tumimbang said.
The five Negrenses flew from Riyadh to Manila on February 1.
Three of them are from Bacolod while the other two are from Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Tumimbang assured Negrenses the province is “MERS-CoV free.” (PNA)
LAM/NLG/MPE/EDS