DOH confirms Chinese woman 3rd case of nCoV in PH
Published Feb 5, 2020 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera
A 60-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, China became the third confirmed case of 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 nCoV-ARD) in the country, the Department of Health announced Wednesday.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"The patient arrived in Cebu City from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 20, 2020, and traveled to Bohol thereafter. On January 22, the patient consulted a private hospital in Bohol after experiencing fever and coryza," said Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo in a press briefing at the DOH-Central Office in Manila.
Domingo said the Chinese woman had no fever when she passed through the thermal scanners upon her arrival in Cebu City last Jan. 20.
Domingo explained that the samples taken from the patient last Jan. 24 tested negative for the novel coronavirus. The test was performed by both the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia, and the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
"Results from said tests came back negative last January 29 and 30, and upon recovery of the patient, she was discharged and was allowed to return to China via Cebu last January 31," Domingo said.
The health undersecretary, however, noted that the RITM last Monday (Feb. 3) notified them that an earlier sample from the patient, dated Jan. 23, tested positive for 2019-nCoV "making her the third confirmed 2019-nCoV ARD in the Philippines."
"They (RITM) decided to also run all of the old samples that they had. One of her samples was from January 23, an earlier sample. So apparently, ito ‘yung naging positive (this came out positive)," Domingo said.
"The picture is, the patient was infected but was getting better, and nag-negative na siya on the 24th, and a week later siya na-discharge -- negative (…she tested negative on the 24th and a week later she was discharged – negative).
"In their clinical explanation is that the patient was probably towards the end of the illness at that time, kaya positive pa siya, pero ‘yung (that is why she still tested positive, but the) subsequent (test) was (already) negative na, both at RITM and in Australia. So validated twice ‘yung kanyang negative result (the negative result was validated twice)," Domingo added.
Domingo also noted that earlier samples of persons under investigation (PUIs) were already tested by the RITM and found negative for novel coronavirus. The health official, however, was unable to disclose the number of earlier samples tested by the RITM.
“We have tested all of them--and all of them have tested negative except for this one (third confirmed case).”
Meanwhile, Domingo said they are now conducting contact tracing to identify the individuals who had contact with the Chinese woman.
"The Epidemiology Bureau has initiated contact tracing of persons who interacted with or were in close proximity to the patient," said Domingo.
"The Bureau of Quarantine and EB are coordinating with the concerned airline while the Central Visayas Center for Health Development is in coordination with the hotel where the patient stayed and the hospital where she was admitted."
First confirmed case update, contact tracing
Domingo said the country’s first confirmed case -- the 38-year-old Chinese woman -- remains admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
“’Yung first case natin, wala na talaga siyang sakit for the past week. No fever, no cough, no colds. However, the latest test that was done (in the) last 48 hours was still positive ,” the health official said.
Domingo said they have located 203 individuals who had close contact with the first and second confirmed case of novel coronavirus, and 188 of them were advised to undergo home quarantine.
Domingo also noted that of the 203 contacts, “15 are symptomatic where 14 were already isolated for monitoring.”
“ DOH (Department of Health) urges the passengers from Cebu Pacific flight 5J 241 from Hong Kong to Cebu on January 20 and 21, 2020; Cebu Pacific flight DG 6519 from Cebu to Dumaguete on January 21, 2020; and Philippine Airlines flight PR 2542 from Dumaguete to Manila on January 25, 2020 to cooperate with DOH representatives who will be getting in touch with them for assessment,” he said.
The health official gave the assurance that they are currently working with other concerned agencies to expedite the contact tracing process.
Persons under investigation (PUIs)
Domingo said the number of PUIs across the country for the 2019 nCoV ARD has reached 133.
“Of the 133 PUIs, 115 are currently admitted and isolated, while 16 have been discharged under strict monitoring. Among the PUIs 63 are Filipinos, 54 are Chinese, and 16 from other nationalities. Thirty-two of were reported to have traveled to Wuhan, China.”
The health undersecretary reminded the public to practice proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette as these are still “the best way to protect oneself from this virus.”
“I am calling all Filipinos to cooperate. In such trying times, we should not let our fears overwhelm us and cause us to over-react. We need to work together.” (With a report from Gabriela Baron)
READ MORE: China virus death toll rises to 490: govt
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"The patient arrived in Cebu City from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 20, 2020, and traveled to Bohol thereafter. On January 22, the patient consulted a private hospital in Bohol after experiencing fever and coryza," said Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo in a press briefing at the DOH-Central Office in Manila.
Domingo said the Chinese woman had no fever when she passed through the thermal scanners upon her arrival in Cebu City last Jan. 20.
Domingo explained that the samples taken from the patient last Jan. 24 tested negative for the novel coronavirus. The test was performed by both the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia, and the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
"Results from said tests came back negative last January 29 and 30, and upon recovery of the patient, she was discharged and was allowed to return to China via Cebu last January 31," Domingo said.
The health undersecretary, however, noted that the RITM last Monday (Feb. 3) notified them that an earlier sample from the patient, dated Jan. 23, tested positive for 2019-nCoV "making her the third confirmed 2019-nCoV ARD in the Philippines."
"They (RITM) decided to also run all of the old samples that they had. One of her samples was from January 23, an earlier sample. So apparently, ito ‘yung naging positive (this came out positive)," Domingo said.
"The picture is, the patient was infected but was getting better, and nag-negative na siya on the 24th, and a week later siya na-discharge -- negative (…she tested negative on the 24th and a week later she was discharged – negative).
"In their clinical explanation is that the patient was probably towards the end of the illness at that time, kaya positive pa siya, pero ‘yung (that is why she still tested positive, but the) subsequent (test) was (already) negative na, both at RITM and in Australia. So validated twice ‘yung kanyang negative result (the negative result was validated twice)," Domingo added.
Domingo also noted that earlier samples of persons under investigation (PUIs) were already tested by the RITM and found negative for novel coronavirus. The health official, however, was unable to disclose the number of earlier samples tested by the RITM.
“We have tested all of them--and all of them have tested negative except for this one (third confirmed case).”
Meanwhile, Domingo said they are now conducting contact tracing to identify the individuals who had contact with the Chinese woman.
"The Epidemiology Bureau has initiated contact tracing of persons who interacted with or were in close proximity to the patient," said Domingo.
"The Bureau of Quarantine and EB are coordinating with the concerned airline while the Central Visayas Center for Health Development is in coordination with the hotel where the patient stayed and the hospital where she was admitted."
First confirmed case update, contact tracing
Domingo said the country’s first confirmed case -- the 38-year-old Chinese woman -- remains admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
“’Yung first case natin, wala na talaga siyang sakit for the past week. No fever, no cough, no colds. However, the latest test that was done (in the) last 48 hours was still positive ,” the health official said.
Domingo said they have located 203 individuals who had close contact with the first and second confirmed case of novel coronavirus, and 188 of them were advised to undergo home quarantine.
Domingo also noted that of the 203 contacts, “15 are symptomatic where 14 were already isolated for monitoring.”
“ DOH (Department of Health) urges the passengers from Cebu Pacific flight 5J 241 from Hong Kong to Cebu on January 20 and 21, 2020; Cebu Pacific flight DG 6519 from Cebu to Dumaguete on January 21, 2020; and Philippine Airlines flight PR 2542 from Dumaguete to Manila on January 25, 2020 to cooperate with DOH representatives who will be getting in touch with them for assessment,” he said.
The health official gave the assurance that they are currently working with other concerned agencies to expedite the contact tracing process.
Persons under investigation (PUIs)
Domingo said the number of PUIs across the country for the 2019 nCoV ARD has reached 133.
“Of the 133 PUIs, 115 are currently admitted and isolated, while 16 have been discharged under strict monitoring. Among the PUIs 63 are Filipinos, 54 are Chinese, and 16 from other nationalities. Thirty-two of were reported to have traveled to Wuhan, China.”
The health undersecretary reminded the public to practice proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette as these are still “the best way to protect oneself from this virus.”
“I am calling all Filipinos to cooperate. In such trying times, we should not let our fears overwhelm us and cause us to over-react. We need to work together.” (With a report from Gabriela Baron)
READ MORE: China virus death toll rises to 490: govt