The Department of Health (DOH) said that it is currently monitoring the health condition of four Filipino crew members of MV Athens Bridge who were infected with the coronavirus variant first detected in India.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the four Filipino seafarers are currently admitted in a hospital in Metro Manila.
“Ang isa sa kanila ngayon ay naka intubate pero sabi po ng ospital, ay nasa maayos na kalagayan at mukhang nag-iimprove. Tatlo po sa kanila ay (One of them is currently intubated but the hospital said he is in good condition and seems to be improving. Three of them are) under oxygen support and they are also going well,” said Vergeire.
The Philippines has a total of 12 cases of the B.1.617 variant. Of these, nine were crew members of the said cargo vessel from India.
Vergeire said that they are currently studying the characteristics of the B.1.617 variant.
“Tiitingnan po natin itong course ng sakit nila kung... kinumpara doon sa mga other variants or yung ibang individuals na may sakit ay talagang mas mahaba or wo-worsen (We are monitoring the course of their disease and we will compare if last longer or worse than the other variants),” said Vergeire.
On May 7, the DOH reported that 12 crew members of MV Athens Bridge were brought to a quarantine facility after they tested positive for COVID-19. The said cargo ship was allowed to dock in Manila last May 6 after the crew members asked for medical assistance.