MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 23, 2014) – Pinagiingat ngayon ng Department of Health ang publiko dahil sa kumakalat na Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus o MERS-CoV.
Mahigit sa dalawang dosenang katao ang isinailalim sa quarantine sa Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao at patuloy ang pagbabantay ng Bureau of Quarantine sa mga dayuhan at overseas Filipino workers na dumarating sa bansa mula sa Middle East at iba pang bahagi ng mundo upang makatiyak na walang makakapasok na karagdagang pasyente o may mga simtomas ng MERS-Cov.
Patuloy rin ang panawagan ng pamahalaan sa mga pasahero ng eroplano na kung saan sumakas ang isang Pinay nurse na positibo sa naturang virus. Ilan sa mga nasakabay ng nurse ang positibo umano sa MERS-CoV. Galing sa Middle East ang nurse at nahawa umano mula sa isang pasyente doon. Isang OFW na ang nasawi sa Saudi at hindi pinayagan ang bangkay nito na maibalik sa bansa.
Sinabi ni Health Secretary Enrique Ona na ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino ang pagbuo sa Task Force MERS-CoV upang mabigyan ng sapat na kaalaman ang publiko ukol sa sakit.
“Upon the President’s instructions, the Department of Health has mobilized Task Force MERS-CoV to create heightened awareness among our people on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus and prevent the spread of this communicable disease. At the outset, let me point this out: there is still no epidemic or outbreak of MERS-Coronavirus in the Middle East or the Arabian Peninsula. That is why the World Health Organization has not imposed travel restrictions to and from the Middle East.”
“As a health precaution, however, I have approved the issuance of a Bureau of Quarantine alert bulletin to those travelling from the Middle East and through our international airports so that those who may be affected by the MERS-Coronavirus will be given prompt assistance. As there are tens of thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East and hundreds of them who travel to the Middle East or return home from their jobs daily, it is important that their families, relatives, friends, neighbors and all members of their local communities fully understand all that must be known about MERS-CoV,” ani Ona.
Sinigurado naman ni Ona sa publiko at lalo na ang mga OFWs sa Middle East na ginagawa lahat ng pamahalaan ang bawat paraan ukol sa MERS-CoV.
“The DOH assures our people, especially our Overseas Filipino Workers based in the Middle East and their families and communities, that government will exert maximum efforts to keep you informed and aware of all vital developments. We shall also extend our fullest assistance through our various regional and district hospitals, regional offices, the Bureau of Quarantine and attached agencies such as PhilHealth. We have established 24-hour hotlines that may be called by our citizens and foreign nationals residing in the Philippines that may need assistance: (02) 711-1001 up to 1002; 0922-8841564; 0920-9498419 and 0915-7725621.”
“MERS-Coronavirus is a communicable disease, so it is important that we all work together to prevent the infection from spreading. Maging handa, maagap at mapag-masid po tayong lahat. Pairalin natin ang diwa ng Bayanihan para sa kalusugan at kaligtasan nating lahat,” sabi pa ni Ona.
Kabilang sa mga simtomas ng sakit ay ang lagnat, pagdudumi, paguubo at pangangapos ng hininga.
At upang makaiwas sa sakit, sinabi naman ng US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention na dapat panatiliin malinis ang mga kamay o palaging maghugas gamit ang sabon sa loob ng 20 segundo at kung walang tubig ay maaaring gumamit ng alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Dapat rin takpan ng panyo o tissue ang bibig at ilong sa tuwing umuubo o bumabahing at agad itapon sa basurahan ang ginamit na tissue. Iwasan rin ang paghawak sa mga mata, ilong at bibig gamit ang maruming mga kamay at huwag humalik o gumamit ng anumang baso o pinggan at kubyertos ng isang taong may sakit.
Natuklasan ang MERS-CoV noon 2012 at ayon sa World Health Organization (WHO) ay wala pang sapat na kaalaman o impormasyon ukol dito.
“Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that includes viruses that may cause a range of illnesses in humans, from the common cold to SARS. Viruses of this family also cause a number of animal diseases. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, this particular strain of coronavirus has not been previously identified in humans. There is very limited information on transmission, severity and clinical impact with only a small number of cases reported thus far,” pahayag pa ng WHO.
Sa babala naman ng WHO ay sinabi nito na: “Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns. Infection prevention and control measures are critical to prevent the possible spread of MERS-CoV in health care facilities.”
“Health-care facilities that provide for patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with MERS-CoV infection should take appropriate measures to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus from an infected patient to other patients, health-care workers and visitors. Health care workers should be educated, trained and refreshed with skills on infection prevention and control. “
Sinabi pa ng WHO sa naturang babala na “it is not always possible to identify patients with MERS-CoV early because some have mild or unusual symptoms. For this reason, it is important that health-care workers apply standard precautions consistently with all patients – regardless of their diagnosis – in all work practices all the time.”
“Droplet precautions should be added to the standard precautions when providing care to all patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection. Contact precautions and eye protection should be added when caring for probable or confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection. Airborne precautions should be applied when performing aerosol generating procedures. Patients should be managed as potentially infected when the clinical and epidemiological clues strongly suggest MERS-CoV, even if an initial test on a nasopharyngeal swab is negative. Repeat testing should be done when the initial testing is negative, preferably on specimens from the lower respiratory tract.”
Nanawagan rin ang WHO na ipagbigay alam agad sa kanila ang mga kasong naitala sa ibat-ibang mga bansa. “All Member States are reminded to promptly assess and notify WHO of any new case of infection with MERS-CoV, along with information about potential exposures that may have resulted in infection and a description of the clinical course. Investigation into the source of exposure should promptly be initiated to identify the mode of exposure, so that further transmission of the virus can be prevented.”
“People at high risk of severe disease due to MERS-CoV should avoid close contact with animals when visiting farms or barn areas where the virus is known to be potentially circulating. For the general public, when visiting a farm or a barn, general hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing before and after touching animals, avoiding contact with sick animals, and following food hygiene practices, should be adhered to. WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions,” ayon pa sa WHO.
Pinaigting naman ng Saudi Arabia ang kampanya nito kontra sa MERS-CoV matapos na maitala ang 50 kaso sa loob lamang ng isang lingo at 7 na ang kumpirmadong nasawi sa sakit.
Umabot na sa 257 ang kaso na naitala sa Saudi at patuloy ang pagtaas ng bilang nito at hindi mabatid kung may mga OFWs doon ang nahawa sa sakit. Inaasikaso na umano ng Saudi Ministry of Health ang mga biktima, subali’t hindi pa rin malinaw kung paano mapipigilan ang pagkalat o pag dami nito.
“In continuation of the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Health and its interest in pinpointing the scope of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus spread, the MOH has expanded the surveillance and search work regarding its spread, and has tested big numbers of those mingling with the infected. AS a result, the MOH noticed an increase in the number of cases as well as the appearance of some cases without MERS CoV-related symptoms.”
“In meantime, the MOH pointed out that it constantly communicates with the scientific, specialized bodies and universities and companies manufacturing the vaccines. This aims at reaching the information which together with the rest of the world’s states, enable it to identify the ways of virus transmission, look into ways of treatment, and manufacture the appropriate vaccine,” ayon pa sa Ministry of Health ng Saudi Arabia.
Dahil sa epidemia ng MERS-CoV sa Saudi ay sinibak sa kanyang tungkulin si Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah at pinalitan siya ni Labor Minister Adel bin Mohammad Faqih. (Mindanao Examiner)
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