A one-year-old Chinese boy with measles and history of travel from China, is the newest patient under investigation (PUI) for 2019 nCoV at the isolation room of Ospital ng Palawan (ONP), said the Department of Health (DOH) in the region Tuesday, February 4, 2020.
Dr. Mario Baquilod, the DOH regional director, told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Tuesday that they considered the baby a PUI for 2019 nCoV, even while measles in itself is a viral disease also causing flu-like symptoms and respiratory infection, because “co-morbidity” is always possible wherein two or more diseases may occur in one person at a given time.
Baquilod also cited that the baby has a history of travel to China, which met the criteria in considering a sick person with the same symptoms a PUI.
“Nag-discuss kami ng aming mga epidemiologist, so far ‘yong one-year-old na Chinese we are considering as PUI. Puwede namang maging co-morbidity, two diseases could exist. But hindi namin sinasabing meron ‘yan ngayon [na 2019 nCoV, because only the proper testing may reveal the result],” said Baquilod.
“Because the boy, ‘yong baby, meron siyang signs and symptoms na nagfi-fit sa aming definition [such as] fever, [then sa] respiratory, plus may travel history from China,” he added.
He said the Chinese boy was placed at the ONP isolation room Saturday, just the following day after the former PUI Brazilian girl whose 2019 nCoV test turned out negative was discharged Friday afternoon, January 31.
Baquilod said they are going to submit a specimen to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to determine the real condition of the PUI.
Baquilod further mentioned the parents of the PUI do not want their child to stay any longer at the isolation room.
He also said the parents are refusing to let the health authorities take specimens from the child for RITM.
“Actually we are struggling ngayon because the parents do not want [to]. Sabi ko kay Dr. Mel Dy we cannot do that or else tatagal lang ‘yong patient diyan. So we really have to [make sure] na makakuha tayo ng sample,” he said.
However, Baquilod stated they can always seek assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) should there be any resistance or problems to occur.