Second Philippines case
Officials confirm Philippine’s second case of MERS in a 36-year-old man from Dubai, who flew to Manila on a flight from Dubai, after making a stopover in Saudi Arabia. He began showing symptoms and was admitted to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa city, about 30km (18 miles) south of the capital, Manila, where he tested positive and was quarantined. The patient is recovering, but authorities continue to investigate those who he was in contact with.
Algeria confirms first cases
Two Algerian men, ages 66 and 59, test positive after returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The Algerian Health Ministry confirms the cases but gives no details as to the men’s condition.
No Hajj travel ban
After a five-day inspection, World Health Organization experts don’t recommend restrictions on travel to Saudi Arabia, including upcoming pilgrimages, although two deaths and 10 more cases are reported today. In Jeddah, WHO and Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih launch a kingdom-wide public awareness campaign, urging the public to do frequent hand washing and sanitizing as well as to avoid contact with eyes, nose and mouth. The experts recommend cooking camel meat until well done and avoiding unpasteurized camel milk.
The government is doing its best to prevent the spread of the MERS coronavirus, which is why we need the help of residents in implementing simple precautionary measures to help curb the disease