Filipinos in S. Korea urged to guard against MERS-CoV

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in South Korea to take the necessary precautions against the dreaded Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after South Korean nationals had been infected with the disease.

In his Twitter account, POEA chief Hans Leo Cacdac posted a list of things that Filipinos in South Korea should do to avoid contracting the disease:

• Always practice proper hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap or alcohol hand rubs.

• Practice proper cough etiquette. Use a tissue when coughing or sneezing and cover your mouth and nose with it. Dispose of the tissue in a waste basket.

• Avoid contact with persons sick or infected with MERS-CoV. If you have a respiratory illness, stay home and wear a surgical mask to protect your family.

• Visit your doctor, a hospital or health facility immediately if symptoms of MERS-CoV manifest itself, including persistent coughing and other symptoms.

So far, there have been four deaths and 50 cases of MERS-CoV reported in South Korea.