THE Department of Health Cordillera (DOH-CAR) is currently monitoring an individual from China who arrived in the region January 19 including two of his boardmates of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Doctor Janice Bugtong, of DOH–CAR OIC director, said the individual has no history of travel to Wuhan and did not have any known contact with individuals confirmed of 2019-nCoV.
“Samples from the individual including two of his roommates were already sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for testing. All are well and under quarantine,” Bugtong said.
Karen Lonogan, senior health program officer of DOH–CAR Center for a Health and Development, said that according to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).
The 2019-nCoV can be contracted through human-to-human transmission.
“The 2019-nCoV can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing, and handling infected respiratory secretions which could be aggravated during mass gatherings and festivities and other social gatherings. We call on the public to practice proper hygiene to help mitigate the spread of such respiratory infections,” Lonogan said.
DOH continues to remind the public to wash their hand with soap and water especially if in contact with respiratory secretions, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, practice cough etiquette, avoid contact with sick persons especially those with respiratory condition. If not feeling well, restrict activities at home, except if getting medical care. Wash and cook food thoroughly, and if handling animal meat, make sure to wash ones hands and clean utensils properly to avoid possibility of contaminating other foods.
Doctor Jennifer Joyce Pira, Medical Officer IV and infectious disease cluster head of DOH–CAR, assured the readiness and preparedness of local hospitals to act on possible cases of the 2019 nCov in the region with the establishment of medical response teams in various hospitals in CAR.
Meanwhile, Baguio City Health Services Officer Doctor Rowena Galpo said even if there are no case of 2019 nCoV in the country’s Summer Capital which is set to have numerous social activities and festivities in the coming months, reminded the public particularly those having signs and symptoms of fever, coughs and colds to remain at home to prevent the spread of common viral infection.
“That’s the only advisory we can give at this moment, aside from the public to strengthen their health to resist all this diseases through healthy lifestyle not just only for this event but making it a daily habit to live a healthy lifestyle,” Galpo said.
The City Health Officer said although the city government cannot apply specific measures to prevent the gathering of the people in city during festivities, the City Health Office encourages the public to avoid crowded areas and places or to be vigilant by practicing a healthy life style.
“Of course, when there is a crowd, there is an ease of transmission of the disease or for any disease for that matter so every time we have the Panagbenga, our advice is for those having signs and symptoms of fever to remain at home,” Galpo added.
Among the activities lined up in the region in the coming months which the Regional Health Department will be monitoring aside from Panagbenga is the PMA alumni homecoming and the Cordillera Administrative Regional Athletic Association in Baguio City, the Strawberry festival in La Trinidad, Benguet, Etag and Lang-Ay festival in Mountain Province aside from other social gathering in the region.
DOH–CAR also advices the public to confirm alleged reports of such diseases to the Health Department, the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and with the nearest government health facilities for official information and to not rely on information coming from the social media.