MANILA. – Three Korean nationals were admitted Monday afternoon at Manila Doctors Hospital on suspicion of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) infection. They are now quarantined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) after symptoms of the deadly virus appeared according to a health official.
Dr. Dessi Roman, RITM consultant and an infectious disease specialist at the Manila Doctors Hospital, said that the patients initially checked in at the hospital but were transferred to RITM after showing symptoms of the MERS-CoV.
Swab exams were done to the patients to confirm if they are infected with MERS-CoV and results will be known Tuesday, according to Dr. Roman.
RITM is the main hospital assigned by the Philippine’s Department of Health to handle suspected or confirmed cases of MERS-CoV.
MERS-CoV was first detected in April 2012 in Saudi Arabia and is considered as more fatal but less transmissible compared to SARS virus. The symptoms are similar to common flu including fever with cough, cold and sneezing.
Recently, Thailand confirmed its first MERS-CoV case but health officials reported that the incident is under control, and thus no reason for public to panic.
Related: What You Need To Know About MERS and How To Prevent It?