WV FREE FROM CHINA VIRUS BUT…

Precautionary measures a must, says DOH

ILOILO City – The three Boracay Island-bound Chinese nationals quarantined at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan tested negative for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that as of yesterday has killed over a hundred people in China and made ill over 4,500 others.

Western Visayas thus remains free from this virus, according to Dr. Jessie Glen Alosabe, epidemiologist of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.

“We received the results of their laboratory tests,” said Alonsabe yesterday.

Throat swab specimens were collected from the three foreigners then these were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila for analysis.

“All of them were negative for the virus,” said Alonsabe.

The three have been released from the hospital, he added.

The first to be quarantined, according to Dr. Cornelio Cuachon of the Aklan Provincial Health Office, was a 29-year-old Chinese national. This was on Jan. 17. The second was a three-year-old girl on Jan. 18.
The third was a 65-year-old Chinese, on Jan. 20.

WHAT’S THE NEW CORONAVIRUS?

The virus causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms seem to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough. After a week, some people can experience shortness of breath and need hospital treatment.

The virus itself is a new, or “novel” coronavirus – a family that normally affects animals.

The effect of the coronavirus family on humans has long been observed mainly in the form of the common cold. In recent decades though, more serious coronaviruses – like SARS or MERS – have proven potentially deadly to humans.

Yet even in the cases of severe viruses most people infected were likely to fully recover just as they would from a normal flu.

On Tuesday, an expert at China’s National Health Commission said one week was sufficient for a recovery from mild coronavirus symptoms.

The new coronavirus is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan City, China and can now spread between people.

Chinese authorities over the weekend said the virus was – like a normal flu – able to spread during its incubation period and before any symptoms appeared.

This would set it apart from cases like SARS and Ebola and make it much harder to contain.

The incubation period can range from two to 10 days, according to the World Health Organization.

However unlike China, it says it remains unclear whether the virus is contagious before symptoms appear.

DOH REGION 6 PREPARES

An incident command system (ICS) has been established with Regional Director Marlyn Convocar as the responsible official.

This is on top of the raising of the code white alert across Western Visayas on Jan. 22, according to Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, chief of DOH Region 6’s Local Health Support Division.

Yesterday afternoon health authorities met with infectious disease specialists from the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod to get their opinion on issuing local and regional advisories and guidelines especially on case management, infection prevention and control, case detection and surveillance.

Health facilities identified by provinces where persons under investigation will be admitted or observed will also be assessed, said Pulmones, on their screening processes, isolation procedures, clinical management, transport of patients, and risk communication.

DOH-6 will also be prepositioning personal protective equipment (PPE) and N95 masks in case there will be a surge in the number of persons under investigation.

Proper training on how the equipment is donned will also be undertaken.

Last week, Pulmones said they conferred with provincial health officers of Aklan and Iloilo because these two provinces have international airports.

“We have to ensure that the ports of entry in Western Visayas are properly activated and covered,” she said.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

DOH-6 reiterated the need for the public to take precautionary measures to protect themselves from respiratory infections.

In its advisory, the Health department explained that coronavirus is an emerging infectious disease, however, simple protection measures lower the risk of the infection.

These include frequent hand washing with soap and water, and observe proper cough etiquette.

Also, avoid close contact with people showing cold or flu-like symptoms and those with unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.

Moreover, it is also important that food is cooked thoroughly, it stressed. (With reports from the Philippine News Agency and BBC/PN)

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