Koreans urged: Have checkups to prevent MERS-COV outbreak

BAGUIO CITY – Health officials urged travelers who went abroad particularly Koreans here to have themselves checked up as precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-Cov),  which has caused 25 deaths in South Korea.

This, as Mayor Mauricio Domogan allayed fears of MERS-Cov threatening the city, which hosts a community of Koreans of around 10,000.

He said leaders of five Korean organizations here are working closely with health officials to monitor and be watchful of their own fellow nationals in ensuring that that MERS-Cov does not reach the Philippines.

In a recent meeting with the Department of Health-Cordillera and City Health Office, Domogan said the Korean group leaders agreed to cooperate in preventing the virus from entering the country through new arrivals from Korea.

 

He said learning more about MERS-Cov and having the cooperation of Korean nationals with health authoritie s are the best defense against the dreaded disease.

The mayor said there is no case of MERS-Cov in the city.

Domogan told the public to be aware of symptoms of the illness, as there is still no known vaccine or medicine for MERS-Cov.

He said travel bans have been issued yet tourist arrivals should be monitored from airports and seaports to ensure health and safety of the general public.

MERS-Cov is an illness discovered in Saudi Arabia 2012 and spread to 21 other countries within two years.

Health officials said symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and could be transmitted through close contact, by those caring for or living with an infected person. Individuals younger than one year old up to 99 could be infected, it was known.

Other symptoms:  gastrointestinal infections, vomiting, and nausea.

Senior citizens and those with low immune system could easily be infected.    

Health officials urged persons exhibiting symptoms with travel history to the Arabian peninsula to seek medical attention and stay home.

A 14-day quarantine period is recommended for persons with recent travel history to MERS Cov-infected places, unless laboratory tests which could be made available after three days states otherwise.

Domogan was set to meet with the council committee on health, and health authorities from the Department of Health –Cordillera, Health Services Officer Rowena Galpo, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Saint Louis University, Notre Dame, Baguio Medical Center, the Department of Health and representatives of the Korean community in the city.

Domogan urged private health facilities to prepare facilities to admit MERS-COV patients particularly Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in case of an outbreak.

During the Ebola scare sometime last year, an isolated ward was prepared at BGH , with a specially trained team of doctors and medical workers. A specially equipped transport for patients was also prepared. – With a report from Julie G. Fianza