The Philippines Department of Health reported on a imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) today (computer translated).
According to health officials, the patient, a 32-year-old nurse who was working in Saudi Arabia was admitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City with symptoms of fever, body aches, cough and difficulty breathing.
Laboratory testing proved positive for the novel coronavirus. The patient is currently confined in a negative pressure room at the RITM in stable condition.
Contact tracing of other passengers is also being done. Experts, however, say that the possibility of other passengers on the plane being infected is low.
This is the second travel-associated MERS case reported in the Philippines since the virus was first detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 30% of people confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection have died.
So far, all the cases have been linked to countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula. This virus has spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. However, there is no evidence of sustained spreading in community settings.
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