AT LEAST 25 people have died from coronavirus and hundreds of cases had been confirmed, mostly in China as the Philippines is investigating another case of a five-year old child who travelled from Wuhan in China and admitted in Cebu City for manifesting fever, throat irritation, and cough.
The Department of Health said the case was immediately reported to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of Central Visayas Center for Health Development.
It said the child is still experiencing cough, but is currently stable and afebrile. Samples from the patient were first tested at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and yielded negative results for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus.
However, the samples tested positive for the non-specific pancoronavirus assay, thus the specimen has been sent to Australia to identify the specific coronavirus strain.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said they are also monitoring 3 more people with flu-like symptoms who arrived in the town of Kalibo in Aklan province from China. He said throat samples from all the patients were sent to RITM for testing.
China has registered 471 cases of coronavirus, four in Thailand, two in Hong Kong and one each in the US, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to more serious infections such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus.
The common signs of coronavirus infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, and shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.
On December 31, a clustering of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology was reported in Wuhan and the outbreak was later determined to be caused by a 2019-novelcoronavirus (nCoV), a new coronavirus strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Initially, the disease was thought to be transmitted through animal contact but recent reports show human-to-human transmission of 2019-nCoV.
Duque said the Bureau of Quarantine is now working with airlines and airport authorities to strengthen border surveillance, while the Epidemiology Bureau is heightening its community surveillance. “The DOH is also enhancing its coronavirus laboratory testing capacity, hospital preparedness, rapid response, and its risk communication and information dissemination. Personal protective equipment are available at the Bureau of Quarantine, Centers for Health Development, and DOH Hospitals,” he said.
He said DOH is also closely monitoring individuals who manifested signs of respiratory infection and had a history of travel to China and is coordinating with World Health Organization and China Center for Disease Control for updates.
“I encourage the health workers to be vigilant and take extra precautionary measures when in contact with patients with acute respiratory infection, especially those with travel history to China,” Duque said.
He said the public should practice frequent hand washing, avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals, practice proper cough etiquette – maintain distance and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow, avoid close contact with people showing cold or flu-like symptoms, and ensure that food is well-cooked.
“I urge travellers with symptoms of respiratory illness, either during or after travel, to seek medical attention immediately. I also call on our health facilities to enhance standard infection prevention and control practices, especially in our emergency departments. We must always be ready,” Duque said. (Mindanao Examiner)
Like Us on Facebook: The Mindanao Examiner
Like Us on Facebook: The Zamboanga Post
Follow Us on Twitter: Mindanao Examine
Mirror Site: Mindanao Examiner Blog
Digital Archives: Mindanao Examiner Digital
Media Rates: Advertising Rates
The Department of Health said the case was immediately reported to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of Central Visayas Center for Health Development.
It said the child is still experiencing cough, but is currently stable and afebrile. Samples from the patient were first tested at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and yielded negative results for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus.
However, the samples tested positive for the non-specific pancoronavirus assay, thus the specimen has been sent to Australia to identify the specific coronavirus strain.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said they are also monitoring 3 more people with flu-like symptoms who arrived in the town of Kalibo in Aklan province from China. He said throat samples from all the patients were sent to RITM for testing.
A Chinese hospital has released first pictures of doctors treating patients who have been struck down by a new deadly virus. (Wuhan Central Hospital / Weibo)
China has registered 471 cases of coronavirus, four in Thailand, two in Hong Kong and one each in the US, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to more serious infections such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus.
The common signs of coronavirus infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, and shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.
On December 31, a clustering of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology was reported in Wuhan and the outbreak was later determined to be caused by a 2019-novelcoronavirus (nCoV), a new coronavirus strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Initially, the disease was thought to be transmitted through animal contact but recent reports show human-to-human transmission of 2019-nCoV.
Duque said the Bureau of Quarantine is now working with airlines and airport authorities to strengthen border surveillance, while the Epidemiology Bureau is heightening its community surveillance. “The DOH is also enhancing its coronavirus laboratory testing capacity, hospital preparedness, rapid response, and its risk communication and information dissemination. Personal protective equipment are available at the Bureau of Quarantine, Centers for Health Development, and DOH Hospitals,” he said.
He said DOH is also closely monitoring individuals who manifested signs of respiratory infection and had a history of travel to China and is coordinating with World Health Organization and China Center for Disease Control for updates.
“I encourage the health workers to be vigilant and take extra precautionary measures when in contact with patients with acute respiratory infection, especially those with travel history to China,” Duque said.
He said the public should practice frequent hand washing, avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals, practice proper cough etiquette – maintain distance and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow, avoid close contact with people showing cold or flu-like symptoms, and ensure that food is well-cooked.
“I urge travellers with symptoms of respiratory illness, either during or after travel, to seek medical attention immediately. I also call on our health facilities to enhance standard infection prevention and control practices, especially in our emergency departments. We must always be ready,” Duque said. (Mindanao Examiner)
Like Us on Facebook: The Mindanao Examiner
Like Us on Facebook: The Zamboanga Post
Follow Us on Twitter: Mindanao Examine
Mirror Site: Mindanao Examiner Blog
Digital Archives: Mindanao Examiner Digital
Media Rates: Advertising Rates
No comments:
Post a Comment