Manila Times/Manila

A Filipina nurse who came home from Saudi Arabia tested positive for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, or the MERS-CoV, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

The DOH said in a statement the nurse, whom it identified only as “AP,” arrived in Manila from Damman on a Saudia Airlines flight on Aug 29. With her was another Filipino nurse, “CB.”

AP stayed at CB’s house in Bulacan before flying home to South Cotabato.

CB learned however that AP was found positive for MERS-CoV while still in Saudi Arabia but had left before the test results were released.

CB became worried after her two grandchildren developed fever.

The three of them, together with 10 relatives who fetched the nurse from the airport, went to the Lung Centre of the Philippines to be checked. All tested negative for the disease.

CB provided the DOH information on AP’s whereabouts. Yesterday, AP was located in South Cotabato and was admitted at the Southern Philippines Medical Centre. She was asymptomatic upon admission.

Her specimen was sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for further testing and confirmation.

MERSCOV is a highly fatal respiratory illness presenting an influenza-like illness characterised by fever, cough and often with diarrhoea.

The DOH said there is limited data on its transmission but it is possible through direct contact of household members and healthcare providers exposed to confirmed cases.

Signs and symptoms of infection with Ebola virus include fever, headache, intense weakness, joint and muscle pains and sore throat.

This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

It also sometimes include rash, red eyes, hiccups and bleeding from body openings in some patients.

The DOH said the government is trying its best to locate all passengers on board the Saudia Airlines, including the domestic flight to South Cotabato.