By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
Three Chinese nationals were admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila after displaying signs of flu, a hospital official confirmed.
Two of the patients have a recent history of travel to Wuhan, China, where the novel coronavirus originated, said Dr. Ferdinand De Guzman, spokesman of San Lazaro Hospital.
De Guzman said the biological specimen of the two patients have already been sent to Australia to undergo pancorona tests, which will determine if they are positive for coronavirus. This is different from the 2019 novel coronavirus tests.
"Yes, the samples of the first two have been sent to Australia," he said in a text message to the Manila Bulletin. "Positive identification will come from Australia."
The novel coronavirus has left 80 people dead and infected over 2,700 people in China. There have also been confirmed cases of the mysterious virus in various parts of Asia and other countries.
As of writing, there are no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines, the health department said. However, they also announced that 11 patients suspected to be infected by the virus and are all from Wuhan are currently under investigation.