QC woman who flew in from Middle East tests negative for MERS-CoV

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City resident and passenger of the Etihad Airways flight EY 0424, which arrived last week from the Middle East, was negative of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus.

The female overseas Filipino worker, who arrived last April 15, was cleared of the MERS-CoV on Sunday morning by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine under the Department of Health.

Supt. Ramon Pranada, the Cubao police station commander, said the passenger was a resident of the Cubao area.

Four relatives with whom the woman interacted since arriving in the country tested negative for the illness.

“The woman is okay. She was given assistance and underwent a medical check-up last Friday. The RITM cleared her last Sunday,” Pranada said.

The official added that the passenger’s housemates also tested negative for the MERS-CoV.

At first, the woman refused to undergo a medical examination but she was eventually persuaded by the DOH personnel.

According to the Quezon City Police District, there are still five other passengers from the Middle East who were found to be living in Quezon City.

Supt. Ronnie Montejo, the District Public Safety Battalion commander, said they have been trying to locate the other five.

The DOH sought the QCPD’s help in locating the five to have them tested for the virus.

“Considering the seriousness of the illness, they must have themselves tested immediately before they spread the virus to others,” Montejo said.

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