Foreigner in Philippines Tests Positive for MERS Virus

Manila: The Philippines has put its infectious disease response unit on alert following a confirmed case of the highly communicable Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (Mers), officials said on Monday.

DOH is now trying to trace some 200 co-passengers of the patient in his second trip.

At least seven people who had close contact with the patient are under home quarantine.

The 50-year-old cancer patient, who was diagnosed with the disease last Saturday, is the 186th person confirmed to have been infected with Mers in the country.

Garin added that those who are at risk of contracting the virus are hospital workers and household members with close and repeated contact with the patient.

He developed a fever and cough the next day and sought treatment on July 2.

A Filipino nurse who worked in Saudi Arabia survived the disease.

“MERS started to affect the South Korean economy in mid-June, and companies will feel the pinch most in the third quarter”, said Kim Hyung-ryeol, a senior analyst at Kyobo Securities.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend the imposition of any travel, trade, or screening restrictions related to MERS-CoV.

South Korea has been struggling to tackle the MERS outbreak that has killed over 30 people and pummeled domestic demand that was considered to be on the brink of recovery.

Mers is caused by a coronavirus, a type of virus which includes the common cold and Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

Contact tracing is now underway, the spokesman said, according to Reuters.

Inquirer.net quoted Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma as saying that President Benigno Aquino III had tasked the health department with tightening surveillance and quarantine measures at ports of entry, as well as ensuring hospitals’ prompt reporting of patients showing MERS symptoms. It was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since spread to several other countries, including the United States.