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The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday confirmed the country’s first case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) involving a 38-year-old woman from Wuhan, China.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that test was performed by the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.

“The confirmed case arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 21, 2020. The patient sought consult and was admitted in one of the country’s government hospitals last January 25 after experiencing mild cough. She is currently asymptomatic,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press briefing.

Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo confirmed to Manila Bulletin that the patient is currently admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

“We are working closely with the hospital where the patient is admitted and have activated the incident command system of the said hospital for appropriate management, specifically on infection control, case management, and containment. We are also implementing measures to protect the health staff providing care to these patients,” Duque said.

The health department is in close coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and the airline companies for the contact tracing of the patient’s co-passengers, DOH Epidemiology Bureau head Dr. Ferchito Avelino said.

“What we did with BOQ is we requested for the flight details. Kung ano yung mga flight carriers na sinakyan ng pasyente at saan pumunta– tinitingnan natin iyon,” Avelino said. (What the flight carriers she took where and where she went, we’re looking at that.)

“That is after we have gathered the information from the patient as to what were the flights [she] took. Aside from that, we coordinated with the CHD (Center for Health Development) — Region 7 and we are looking at the places [she had] been to in Cebu and Dumaguete.

“At the community, we are looking at the establishment [she] stayed [at] and advise the establishment owner to identify the employees that had been in contact with the patient and do the mandatory quarantine to observe them if they manifest signs and symptoms of respiratory infection,” Avelino said.

The DOH said there have been 29 persons under investigation (PUIs) recorded for possible infection of 2019-nCoV since their monitoring started. One of the PUIs died in San Lazaro Hospital last Wednesday.

“Twenty-three PUIs are currently admitted and five have been discharged but are still under strict monitoring. DOH also reported one PUI mortality,” Duque said.

Meanwhile, the health chief said he will “strongly recommend” to the Emerging Disease Task Force a “temporary restriction of travelers from the entire Hubei province of China.”

“But I believe that will still change…it could expand the number or increase the number of places depending on the assessment that is going to be done by the WHO (World Health Organization).

“We will be waiting for the assessment of the WHO and recommendation whether to add to the list some more places with a relatively higher burden of nCoV infection,” he said.

The members of the task force include representatives of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Local Government, Justice, Labor and Employment, Tourism, Transportation, and Information and Communications Technology.

Duque assured the public that the government remains on top of the situation.

“We were able to detect the first confirmed case because of our strong surveillance system, close coordination with World Health Organization and other national agencies, and the utilization of DOH’s decision tool,” he said.

“I urge the public to stay calm and remain vigilant at all times. Let us continue to practice good personal hygiene and adopt healthy lifestyles.”

Duque also said the BOQ remains on high alert and is in constant coordination with authorities from all ports of entry for stricter border surveillance.

“Health facilities are equipped and prepared to receive and care for PUIs and confirmed 2019-nCoV cases,” the health chief added.

WHO Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said their organization will conduct a meeting again to discuss the current situation with regards to the 2019- nCoV.

“They will be looking at the current situation and the evidence and knowledge that has been gained from the last meeting…[if it] now constitutes enough evidence to classify this event as a public health emergency of international concern,” he said. (With reports from Richa Noriega and Reuters)

DOH confirms 1st case of 2019-nCoV in PH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday confirmed the country’s first case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) involving a 38-year-old woman from Wuhan, China.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that test was performed by the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.

“The confirmed case arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 21, 2020. The patient sought consult and was admitted in one of the country’s government hospitals last January 25 after experiencing mild cough. She is currently asymptomatic,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press briefing.

Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo confirmed to Manila Bulletin that the patient is currently admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

“We are working closely with the hospital where the patient is admitted and have activated the incident command system of the said hospital for appropriate management, specifically on infection control, case management, and containment. We are also implementing measures to protect the health staff providing care to these patients,” Duque said.

The health department is in close coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and the airline companies for the contact tracing of the patient’s co-passengers, DOH Epidemiology Bureau head Dr. Ferchito Avelino said.

“What we did with BOQ is we requested for the flight details. Kung ano yung mga flight carriers na sinakyan ng pasyente at saan pumunta– tinitingnan natin iyon,” Avelino said. (What the flight carriers she took where and where she went, we’re looking at that.)

“That is after we have gathered the information from the patient as to what were the flights [she] took. Aside from that, we coordinated with the CHD (Center for Health Development) — Region 7 and we are looking at the places [she had] been to in Cebu and Dumaguete.

“At the community, we are looking at the establishment [she] stayed [at] and advise the establishment owner to identify the employees that had been in contact with the patient and do the mandatory quarantine to observe them if they manifest signs and symptoms of respiratory infection,” Avelino said.

The DOH said there have been 29 persons under investigation (PUIs) recorded for possible infection of 2019-nCoV since their monitoring started. One of the PUIs died in San Lazaro Hospital last Wednesday.

“Twenty-three PUIs are currently admitted and five have been discharged but are still under strict monitoring. DOH also reported one PUI mortality,” Duque said.

Meanwhile, the health chief said he will “strongly recommend” to the Emerging Disease Task Force a “temporary restriction of travelers from the entire Hubei province of China.”

“But I believe that will still change…it could expand the number or increase the number of places depending on the assessment that is going to be done by the WHO (World Health Organization).

“We will be waiting for the assessment of the WHO and recommendation whether to add to the list some more places with a relatively higher burden of nCoV infection,” he said.

The members of the task force include representatives of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Local Government, Justice, Labor and Employment, Tourism, Transportation, and Information and Communications Technology.

Duque assured the public that the government remains on top of the situation.

“We were able to detect the first confirmed case because of our strong surveillance system, close coordination with World Health Organization and other national agencies, and the utilization of DOH’s decision tool,” he said.

“I urge the public to stay calm and remain vigilant at all times. Let us continue to practice good personal hygiene and adopt healthy lifestyles.”

Duque also said the BOQ remains on high alert and is in constant coordination with authorities from all ports of entry for stricter border surveillance.

“Health facilities are equipped and prepared to receive and care for PUIs and confirmed 2019-nCoV cases,” the health chief added.

WHO Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said their organization will conduct a meeting again to discuss the current situation with regards to the 2019- nCoV.

“They will be looking at the current situation and the evidence and knowledge that has been gained from the last meeting…[if it] now constitutes enough evidence to classify this event as a public health emergency of international concern,” he said. (With reports from Richa Noriega and Reuters)
Department of Health News

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