DOH Eastern Visayas monitors 11 PUIs for novel coronavirus

The Department of Health (DOH) Eastern Visayas is monitoring eleven persons under investigation (PUIs) for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as of February 7.

Four new PUIs were reported, including a 7-month-old infant, a 38-year-old Filipina returning from Zhengzhou, China, a 36-year-old American female resident of Shanghai, China, and an 11-year-old Filipina with travel history to Hong Kong.

The infant experienced cough and fever, while the infant's mother and her sister-in-law, also PUIs, developed mild cough and sore throat respectively.

Two previously reported PUIs have been discharged due to negative test results, and another one after completing the 14-day isolation period.

Eight persons under monitoring (PUMs) have been cleared after 14 days with no reported symptoms.

The PUIs' samples have been collected and will be sent to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM).

DOH-8 regional director Minerva Molon stated there is still no confirmed coronavirus case in the region, and attributed the increase in PUIs to their proactive surveillance system and increased public health-seeking behavior.

The Eastern Visayas Police have activated a quick response team to assist in contact tracing.