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DOH confirms 5-year-old boy in Cebu tests negative for 2019 n-CoV
FILE: HEIGHTENED ALERT. Philippine airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are on heightened alert to guard the country against the coronavirus threat. Photo shows one of the two new thermal scanners at NAIA Terminal 1, which is used to detect arriving passengers with high fever.
(PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata)
After conducting an investigation, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the five-year-old boy, who was suspected to be infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), tested negative.
The Health department revealed this on Friday, January 24, after it received the result of the test performed at the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.
“This is indeed very welcome news to ease the Filipinos’ growing concern,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
To recall, the boy, who traveled from Wuhan, China where the deadly virus originated, was admitted in Cebu City for he had initially manifested pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, throat irritation, and cough.
Based on the results of his first test, it was shown that he was negative for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), but he tested positive for the “non-specific pancoronavirus.” This prompted the DOH to send the patient’s sample to Australia to identify the specific coronavirus strain.
Although it was proven that the boy did not have 2019 n-CoV, the DOH said it will continue to remain cautious about the virus, saying its emergency response has been activated.
It added that the Bureau of Quarantine will also coordinate with airlines and airport authorities for stricter border surveillance.
“I assure everyone that your Department of Health will not stop here and is on top of this emerging health event. We will continue to monitor the developing situation and ensure mechanisms to contain the threat of the 2019-nCoV,” Duque stressed.
The DOH also advised travelers with symptoms of fever and cough, and with history of travel to Wuhan, China to immediately seek medical attention.
“Let us continue to be vigilant. Always practice hand hygiene, observe proper cough etiquette, avoid close contact with people manifesting flu-like symptoms, avoid contact with farm and wild animals, cook food properly, and adopt healthy lifestyles to mount immunity against infections,” he added.
It was reported that the virus has already claimed the lives of 26 people in China and infected more than 800.
The World Health Organization (WHO), however, stressed that it is “too early” for them to declare the spread of the new coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
“Make no mistake, this is, though, an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
