Preventive Measures on Personal Hygiene
- Practice proper hand hygiene by washing hands with soap or using alcohol-based hand rubs.
- Key times for hand hygiene include before and after eating, before and after handling or preparing food, after coughing or sneezing, after using toilets, and before/after touching animals.
Respiratory Etiquette
- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or cloth when coughing or sneezing.
- Properly dispose of used tissues in a waste basket to prevent contamination.
Avoidance of Animal Contact
- Avoid contact with farm and domesticated animals, specifically camels, which are potential reservoirs of MERS-CoV.
Avoidance of Infected Persons
- Avoid contact with individuals who are sick or confirmed to have MERS-CoV.
- If exhibiting respiratory symptoms, stay home and wear a surgical mask to protect family members.
Guidelines for Health Workers
- Strict adherence to infection control protocols in the workplace is mandatory.
Immediate Medical Attention
- Seek prompt medical evaluation if symptoms such as persistent coughing or other respiratory issues manifest.
Measures Following Exposure
- Comply with local health regulations if exposed to confirmed MERS-CoV cases.
- Postpone travel abroad until receiving negative test results.
General Health and Wellness
- Practice healthy habits including regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and obtaining at least eight hours of sleep to bolster immunity.
- Avoid panic and only rely on information from authorized government sources.
Advisory for Returning OFWs from MERS-CoV Affected Areas
- Monitor health continuously for a 14-day period after return.
- Report symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, weakness, cough, breathing difficulty, bruising/bleeding, or severe diarrhea.
- Use cloth, handkerchief, or surgical masks to cover mouth and nose when symptomatic to prevent spread.
Emergency Contact Information
- Bureau of Quarantine: (632) 320-9101, (632) 320-9107
- Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) Operations Center: (63) 0922-884-1564, (63) 0920-949-8419, (63) 0915-772-5621
- National Epidemiology Center, DOH: (632) 743-1937
Reporting and Compliance
- Recruitment agencies must report MERS-CoV cases affecting their workers to DOH and POEA.
- Emphasis on cooperation between recruitment agencies, DOH, and POEA for the protection of OFWs' health and safety.