3 Chinese nationals bound for Boracay quarantined for mysterious virus
By Tara Yap
Three Chinese nationals bound for world-famous Boracay Island were quarantined for the mysterious virus after arriving separately at the international airport in Kalibo town, Aklan province from different points of origin in China.
Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr., chief of the Aklan Provincial Health Office (APPO), said the three were tourists who were ordered quarantined after exhibiting flu-like symptoms such as fever and difficulty in breathing upon arriving at the international airport in Kalibo, which has direct flights to and from China.
“Because they had symptoms and they flew in from China, they were all taken to the hospital here in Kalibo for observation,” Cuachon told Manila Bulletin in a Monday phone interview.
This, after the Department of Health (DOH) earlier directed the Bureau of Quarantine to step up its monitoring after the mysterious SARS-like various has been recorded in China.
First to be quarantined was a 29-year-old female who arrived last Friday night, January 17; while the second was a three-year-old female who arrived Saturday morning, January 18.The third was a 65-year-old male who arrived Monday morning, January 20.
The blood samples and specimens taken from the three Chinese nationals will be sent to DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Metro Manila for confirmatory tests.
“We have to give it to DOH because we cannot send it via commercial flights,” Cuachon said.
However, all three Chinese were later allowed to leave the hospital and proceed to Boracay Island for their vacation.
Meanwhile, Cuachon urged the people of Aklan to remain calm and not panic.