DOH Advisory (MERS-COV)
To all Concerned:

We have no MERS-COV case in Cagayan de Oro and in our country. The only institution that can diagnose and isolate MERS-COV/SARS/AVIAN INFLUENZA and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases is our National Reference Laboratory which is the RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR TROPICAL MEDICINE (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

It is true that we have a person under invetigation (PUI) from Singapore with chief complaints of coughing of blood and shortness of breath. It is not true that we have a positive MERS-COV in Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) or in any part of the country.

If you have other questions regarding MERS-COV / SARS / AVIAN INFLUENZA, please visit the Research Epidemiology Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU) or contact us at these numbers 09177143834 & 09177181241.

(signed)
DAVID A. MENDOZA, MD, PHSAE
RESDRU CLUSTER HEAD