Update July 6, 2015: The Department of Health has confirmed second case of MERS-Cov in the Philippines. A foreigner from the Middle East is currently confined at the Research Institute of for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.
An unnamed 36-year-old foreigner who entered the country from the Middle East has tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) – making him the second to be diagnosed with said virus in the Philippines.
According to the Department of Health, the patient has been admitted to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.
Health Secretary Janette Garin announced that there is no need for public panic “the patient showed low viral load, indicating that the patient has a low count of the virus and may be on his or her way to recovery.”
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What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)?
MERS, which emerged from Jordan in 2012, is a respiratory disease that’s jumped from animal to man – though how that happened remains unclear. MERS is transmitted from one person to another by means of droplets coughed into the air and may also infect a person who’s touched surfaces where cough droplets landed.
According to reports, MERS kills by causing “respiratory or kidney failure, or septic shock, an infection that overwhelms the body’s defenses.” It also appears that men over 50 with either kidney or lung disease, diabetes or cancer treatments are most vulnerable to MERS.
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What are the signs and symptoms of MERS-CoV?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, be on the lookout for the following signs and symptoms, especially if arriving from the Middle East or South Korea:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
- Nausea/vomiting
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How can I protect my family from MERS-CoV?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that you can protect your family by taking everyday preventive actions, such as:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid personal contact, such as kissing, or sharing cups or eating utensils, with sick people.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs.
The Department of Health goes on to say that it is important to build up one’s resistance by means of:
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Drinking fluids, and
- Eating nutritious food.
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERSCoV), the Department of Health can be reached through its hotline: 711.1001 to 02.
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