ILOILO City – Fear of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) appears to be spreading faster than the virus itself. With pharmacies running out of facemasks, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas is trying to temper the public’s nervous mad rush to buy masks to protect themselves from getting infected.
According to Dr. Glenn Alonsabe, regional epidemiologist of DOH, those exhibiting flu symptoms such as cough and fever, the vulnerable segments of the population such as children and the elderly, those with preexisting medical conditions, and health workers – these are the people who should wear facemasks.
For the rest of the population, observing proper hygiene such as frequent hand washing and cough etiquette would do to protect them from infection, said Alonsabe yesterday.
Those with preexisting medical conditions would benefit most from wearing facemasks, according to Alonsabe, as doing so would protect them and others not only from the 2019-nCoV but also from seasonal influenza and other diseases.
He also emphasized the importance of health workers (doctors, nurses, etc.) wearing facemasks because they are directly dealing with sick people.
“The general public is not really advised nga maggamit facemasks,” said Alonsabe.
The novel coronavirus causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms seem to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.
There are now more than 17,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus mostly in China’s Wuhan City, the epicenter of the outbreak in Hubei province. Some 361 people have died in the mainland alone.
Outside China, there are more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus – and one death, in the Philippines.
Demand for disposable facemasks has risen in recent days, according to pharmacies in Iloilo City, as people become increasingly concerned of the possibility that the virus in China could spread in the country.
According to pharmacists, there was a dramatic spike in demand after DOH-6 reported on Jan. 29 that it was “monitoring one patient under investigation (PUI) from China who arrived in Iloilo on Jan. 27 complaining of fever but without any history of travel to Hubei Province, China and without any history of exposure.”
WHO’S ADVICE
In its website, the World Health Organization (WHO) has the section “Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public.
Its standard recommendations for the general public to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses are as follows, which include hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices:
* Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
* When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
* Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
* If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider;
* When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals;
* The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.
IN WV: 8 PERSONS UNDER INVESTIGATION
DOH in Western Visayas reported yesterday eight persons were under investigation (PUI) while seven persons were under monitoring (PUM).
Of the eight PUIs, six were in Aklan while two were in Iloilo City, said D r. Mary Jane Juanico, head of DOH-6’s Infectious Disease Section.
Four of the eight PUIs already tested negative for the 2019-nCoV while the results of the remaining cases were still to be released, she said.
Three were still in the hospital while five were already discharged, Juanico added.
Of the three PUIs still in the hospital, one was in Aklan while two were in Iloilo City (which included the three-year-old Chinese child who earlier sought medical attention at the Western Visayas Medical Center due to fever.
Juanico said the child was ready to be discharged from the hospital as his laboratory test results released yesterday morning showed he was negative for the 2019-nCoV.
Result of the laboratory test of the other one, a 31-year-old Taiwanese national also admitted at the Western Visayas Medical Center, is yet to be released, same with the one admitted in an Aklan hospital, a 24-year-old Filipina.
Regarding the seven PUMs – one was in Aklan, two in Iloilo City, three in Iloilo province, and one in Negros Occidental.
Four of them were still in the hospital while three were under home quarantine (family of three Chinese nationals from Banate, Iloilo).
“They are already almost well. They are just closely being monitored,” said Juanico.
PUMs are those with a history of travel or history of contact with a known confirmed case but do not manifest signs and symptoms.
If one has a history of travel and has close contact with one who is positive for nCoV and manifest fever, cough and cold, he or she is considered a PUI.
Nationwide, DOH recorded a total of 52 PUIs./PN
