Health dept frowns over Mers-cov scare, slams pranksters

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

WHAT Mers-cov?

The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday frowned at pranksters and speculators whom it said were behind the Mers-cov scare that started on Wednesday.

There is no single confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-cov) in the city contrary to what has been spread via text messages and social media, said Dr. David Mendoza, head for Research Epidemiology Surveillance  and Disease Response Unit of the DOH in northern  Mindanao.

Neither does the city have a confirmed case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) or  Avian Influenza Virus, he said.

Mendoza however confirmed that a 36-year old woman from Lapasan has been confined at the Northern  Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) after she vomited blood, and due to difficulties in breathing.

The woman worked as a caregiver in Singapore, and returned home in Jan. 31. She was rushed to the Sabal hospital in Feb. 2, and moved to the NMMC the following day.

Mendoza said samples have been taken for examination at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila.

“Sila lang ang puwedeng mag-isolate kon na-ay angayan ma-isolate,” he said.

Mendoza said the RITM is expected to come out with the results today or tomorrow.

He said the woman was being taken care of at NMMC, and that she was  “under investigation.”

Mendoza said there was no reason for the public to panic, and that things being said especially on social media were lies and based on wild speculations of irresponsible people.

“Ang atong pasayente gitawag na man ug person under investigation tungod sa iyang status nga gikan siya sa gawas. Any person who shows signs and symptoms of sickness entering from other countries are considered persons under investigation,” Mendoza said. (nitz arancon)