Palace welcomes WHO’s recognition to PHL for rapid strong response to MERS-CorV

Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, and Acting Health Secretary Janette L. Garin announce that the first case of MERSCoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus) in the Philippines (Joey O. Razon / PNA)

MANILA – Malacanang welcomed on Sunday the recognition given by the World Health Organization (WHO) to the Philippines for its rapid strong response to a 36-year-old foreigner who has been diagnosed positive of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CorV).

”The government gladly welcomes the recognition given by the World Health Organization,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a Radyo ng Bayan interview.

According to the Department of Health, the foreign patient is expected to be released anytime from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) after the results of the examination for the last 48 hours became negative.

Meanwhile, Coloma said other passengers of the same flight where the foreigner boarded last June 19 have also been found negative from the MERS-CoV.

”They will remain at the RITM until the 14th day of confinement period,” Coloma said.

Coloma said the government continues to strengthen its quarantine measures in all airports, ports and other ports of entry.

”We will also make sure that all hospitals will report any symptoms of MERS-Cov so that they will undergo isolation, medication based on the directives of President (Benigno) Aquino,” Coloma said.

Coloma also said the DOH has improved the capability of the RITM and other public hospitals to monitor and detect and eventually provide necessary medication for any kind of diseases.

”In fact, the budget of the DOH has been increased by 25 percent as it will now reach PhP128.5 billion,” Coloma said.