Health officials in the province of Bohol have denied reports that there are victims of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-Corona) virus, who are contract workers abroad, now confined at a government hospital. Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, Provincial Health Office (PHO) head, yesterday said that there is no truth to report that certain Boholano victims of the dreaded virus from the Middle East have returned home here. Cabagnot's clarification was supported by Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, who has assured that the province is safe, adding that there is no need to cause for alarm. The panic on MERS-Corona was triggered by reports that two Boholanos from the Middle East were reportedly confined at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH).

The names of Ivy Amor Virtudazo from Jagna and Samuel Cordano from Calape, who recently arrived here from the Middle East, have surfaced in the heels of the report. The two were reportedly confined at GCGMH for 14 days under strict observation, but they were later dismissed from the hospital after having tested negative of the horrible virus. Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 has said 23 of the 25 patients in Central Visayas tested negative of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV). Of the 25 cases in the region, 21 are from Cebu, two in Bohol and two in Negros Oriental. Health officials also said they are tracking all possible MERS-CoV carriers in the region.

DOH 7 officials are also coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest possible MERS-CoV carriers if they refuse to be tested. Eleven of the suspected MERS-CoV patients in Cebu have been admitted at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City. Eight of the 11 patients were part of the original manifest of Etihad Airlines flight EY0424. The 11 patients are currently being housed in special negative pressure and isolation rooms and are being monitored by two teams composed of 16 medical and non-medical personnel. Dr. Gerardo Aquino, VSMMC hospital chief, said three out of four patients that were supposed to admit themselves at VSMMC on Wednesday did not show up.

Renan Cimafranca of the DOH 7's Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu) said that while the samples were already collected from the three patients, they have to be quarantined as there is still no assurance that they are negative of MERS-CoV contamination. Cimafranca said that they are now coordinating with local police in tracking down the three passengers. He said the quarantine of suspected MERS-CoV patients will ensure that if they test positive of the virus, they are immediately contained and treated. (with reports from PNA)