Philippines - Suspected cases only so far - new coronavirus 2019-nCov news, reports, data

[Treyfish]

3 Chinese nationals quarantined in Kalibo due to suspected SARS-like virus

Maris Federez • January 20, 2020


Aklan, Philippines – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Kalibo is currently on red alert status as three Chinese nationals were reportedly quarantined after they were suspected of having contracted the new SARS-like pneumonia virus.

The three were admitted at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital (DRSMTH).

Aklan PHO’s Dr. Cornelio Cuahon said that first to be put under hospital quarantine was a 29-year-old Chinese national on January 17.

The second was a three-year-old girl on January 18, while the third was a 65-year-old who was tagged after landing at Kalibo airport this Monday.

The Bureau of Quarantine stationed at the Kalibo International Airport (KLO) reportedly spotted the three Chinese nationals as they arrived from different provinces of China.

The KLO has direct flights coming from different parts of China.


https://www.untvweb.com/news/3-chinese-nationals-quarantined-in-kalibo-due-to-suspected-sars-like-virus/

[Treyfish]

KALIBO (Updated) -- The Provincial Health Office of Aklan said three Chinese nationals were separately quarantined in Aklan for possible case of "SARS-like pneumonia" or mystery pneumonia.

Dr. Cornelio Cuahon of the Provincial Health Office said a 29-year-old Chinese national was placed on quarantine on January 17.

"Upon arriving at the airport and was detected, she has a fever, she was referred to the provincial hospital and was observed overnight. The following day, since she has no fever and no difficulty breathing, she was permitted to go to Boracay," Cuachon said.

The second passenger is a three-year-old girl who arrived with her parents on Saturday, January 18.
"This second passenger was detected having a fever. When she arrived at the provincial hospital, she was diagnosed as having upper respiratory tract infection," Cuachon said.

He said since the child was treated as outpatient, she and her parents were also allowed to proceed to Boracay Island.

The third patient is a 65-year-old male who arrived on Monday morning, January 20.

"The third one has also fever, but when he arrived at the provincial hospital, he was treated as outpatient upon assessment of the doctors," Cuachon said.

All of them were brought to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH) for medical checkup but were later allowed to go to Boracay, their primary destination.

Throat swabs and blood specimens were taken from the three patients...
If results of the tests turn out positive for "N. Corona Virus," he advised the three Chinese nationals to return to the hospital.

"We advised them that since they are asymptomatic (no fever) when they were released from the hospital, in case the symptoms get worst, balik lang sila sa hospital (they should just go back to the hospital), he said.

The three Chinese nationals were spotted by the Bureau of Quarantine at the Kalibo International Airports (KIA). Personnel of the Bureau of Quarantine saw them, through their thermal scanner, having temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius.

They came from different provinces in China..https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1...tined-in-Aklan

[Shiloh]

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/121558...ymptoms-tested

Coronavirus scare in Boracay: 3 Chinese tourists showed flu symptoms, tested
By: Nestor P. Burgos Jr. - @inquirerdotnet
Inquirer Visayas / 09:14 PM January 20, 2020

ILOILO CITY—Blood and saliva were taken from three Chinese tourists bound for Boracay Island for tests after they showed flu-like symptoms that alerted health authorities who are on the frontlines of efforts to prevent the entry into the Philippines of a deadly coronavirus strain that emanated from China.

Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr., Aklan provincial health officer, denied, however, that the three were quarantined as erroneously reported by other media outlets.

An international alert is up for the coronavirus which causes pneumonia and death and which was first reported in Wuhan, capital of China’s Hubei province.

“We just took samples from them and they were allowed to proceed to Boracay. They were all outpatients,” Cuachon told the INQUIRER.

He said the three tourists had “mild” cases of fever, colds and cough...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.untvweb.com/news/doh-mon...like-symptoms/

DOH monitors child from Wuhan, China who manifested flu-like symptoms
Robie de Guzman • January 21, 2020 • 8

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it is monitoring the case of a five-year old boy with a history of travel to Wuhan, China for manifesting flu-like symptoms.

The child, who arrived in Cebu with his mother on January 12, was admitted in a hospital in Central Visayas after he manifested symptoms of respiratory illness such as fever, throat irritation and cough prior to entering the Philippines.

The DOH said the young boy is now in stable condition but still had cough.

Based on samples examined by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the unnamed child tested negative for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Both diseases are caused by a family of viruses called coronavirus.

But he tested positive for a non-specific pancoronavirus assay, meaning that he is infected with a strain of coronavirus. The sample has been sent to a laboratory in Australia for further testing.

The DOH said the child will remain “a person under investigation” until they could get confirmatory results.

[Pathfinder]

DOH INVESTIGATES A PNEUMONIA CASE WITH HISTORY OF TRAVEL FROM WUHAN, CHINA

Press Release / 21 January 2020

The Department of Health (DOH) today disclosed that it is currently investigating the case of a five-year-old who traveled from Wuhan, China and was admitted in Cebu City for manifesting fever, throat irritation, and cough prior to entering the Philippines.

The case was immediately reported to the Regional Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit of Central Visayas Center for Health Development and the child was endorsed for admission.

The patient as of today 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 (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV). 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.

DOH is also monitoring three individuals with flu-like symptoms upon entering the country via the Kalibo International Airport from China, but without any history of travel to Wuhan and without any known contact with a confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case, Severe Acute Respiratory Illness case, or sick animals. Throat samples from these patients were already sent to RITM for testing. All three cases are currently well and are no longer manifesting any symptoms.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to more serious infections such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. Common signs of coronavirus infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

On December 31, 2019, a clustering of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology was reported in Wuhan, China. The outbreak was later determined to be caused by a 2019-nCoV, a new coronavirus strain that has not been previously identified in humans. To date, two hundred twenty-two (222) 2019-nCoV cases were reported in China, majority coming from Wuhan, with cases also coming from cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen. Thailand, Japan, and South Korea also reported confirmed cases. Initially, the said disease was thought to be transmitted through animal contact but recent reports show human-to-human transmission of 2019-nCoV.

The Bureau of Quarantine is working with airlines and airport authorities to strengthen border surveillance, while the Epidemiology Bureau is heightening its community surveillance. The Department 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. DOH is also closely monitoring individuals who manifested signs of respiratory infection and had a history of travel to China and is coordinating with WHO 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,”Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

DOH advises the public to practice frequent handwashing, 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 travelers 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,” the Health Chief concluded.

https://www.doh.gov.ph/doh-press-release/doh-investigates-a-pneumonia-case-with-history-of-travel-from-wuhan-china

[sharon sanders]

h/t Shiloh

Specimen from Chinese kid in Cebu found negative of novel coronavirus

Published January 23, 2020 8:46pm


A specimen from the five-year-old Chinese child who experienced flu-like symptoms has tested negative for the novel coronavirus (nCOV), according to the Department of Health (DOH).

more...

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/723339/specimen-from-chinese-kid-in-cebu-found-negative-of-novel-coronavirus/story/

[Shiloh]

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/25/...virus-symptoms
Brazilian family from Wuhan in Palawan hospital for coronavirus symptoms
ABS-CBN News

Posted at Jan 25 2020 03:02 PM | Updated as of Jan 25 2020 03:11 PM

Taiwanese girl who mingled with Wuhan tourist also under observation

MANILA - A Brazilian family of 3 were placed at the isolation room of a hospital in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Friday after showing flu-like symptoms following a recent trip to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of a fast-spreading disease that has killed dozens and infected more than a thousand people.

The family, a couple and their 10-year-old boy, came in for a checkup at the rural health unit of tourist haven El Nido on Friday, said Dr. Audie Cipriano, medical professional staff chief at the Ospital ng Palawan.

Upon initial check, the child had a fever while the father had a sore throat. They were transported to the Ospital ng Palawan in capital Puerto Princesa at 1 a.m. Saturday and immediately placed at the isolation room for examination.

While the parents had no fever, their child had to be confined after showing respiratory symptoms including difficulty breathing and fever.

The family had to be isolated given their history of travel in Wuhan, a Chinese transport hub of 11 million people now on lockdown in a bid to arrest the spread of the disease.

"''Yong Brazilian, number one they came from Wuhan. Then symptoms 'yong bata (the child) had presenting symptoms ng respiratory symptoms, difficulty of breathing and galing sa Wuhan (they came from Wuhan)," he said...

...The child will undergo a swab test, with the sample to be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City. The family will remain at the Palawan hospital until results are out, he said.

Meanwhile, a 6-year-old girl from Taiwan initially brought to a private hospital was referred to the Ospital ng Palawan for experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, including difficulty breathing.

Cipriano said the patient was recently in the company of a Chinese national from Wuhan, but added this was not confirmed...