Whether they have insurance or not, novel coronavirus (nCoV) patients in the UAE will be treated for free, health authorities assured.
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In a recent Dubai Health Authority (DHA) circular issued to hospitals based on directives from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap), all DHA-licensed health facilities must consider suspected or confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV as emergency cases.
The circular stated that all health facilities must classify the cases in two categories: one for those with insurance coverage and another where insurance coverage is unavailable.
"If the patient has insurance, the cases shall be treated as emergencies according to insurance regulation and insurance companies will honour any claims received," it noted.
Meanwhile, for those who are not insured, "the cases shall still be considered emergencies and suspected or confirmed cases will not bear any payment of healthcare costs at any healthcare facilities."
The move aims to ensure the health and safety of the community and to contain patients with confirmed or suspected infection, and provide them with proper health services.
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Currently there are five nCoV-positive patients in the UAE, including a four-member Chinese family and a Chinese tourist.
Recently, one of them--a 73-year-old woman from China--has recovered from coronavirus. She thanked the Emirati health officials for the care provided to her and to the three members of her family.
Eight persons who came in close contact with the Chinese couple from Wuhan have been placed under observation after exhibiting flu-like symptom, an official from the Department of Health-Epidemiology Bureau (DOH-EB) disclosed.
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On Monday, February 3, DOH-EB Director Chito Avelino disclosed that eight of the 80 patients under investigation (PUIs) had contacted the couple who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (nCoV). “Doon sa PUIs na reported today, may nakita tayo sa contact tracing, may nagkaroon ng symptoms ng ubo at sipon. At eto (walo) ay nakasama sa bilang natin ngayon,” Avelino said.
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In a press conference on Sunday, February 2, health officials confirmed the first nCoV death in the Philippines: a 44-year-old male who died on Saturday, February 1. While the patient was stable and showed signs of improvement in his last few days, his condition deteriorated within his last 24 hours resulting to his demise.
It was disclosed that the country recorded two confirmed cases in the Philippines: a 38-year-old Chinese female and her companion, a 44-year-old Chinese male. Both patients are from Wuhan, China and arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last January 21.They were both admitted for isolation and supportive treatment at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The DOH-EB is currently conducting contact tracing of passengers aboard the flights of the two positive cases. It has secured the manifestos of the flights and is in close coordination with the concerned airlines. Contact tracing activities are ongoing in Cebu and Dumaguete, and in other places where the patients stayed and traveled to.
“The Philippine Government has already implemented a temporary travel ban for travelers coming from China, Macao, and Hong Kong. DOH is monitoring every development on the 2019-nCoV very closely and is taking proactive measures to contain the spread of this virus in our country. This health event is fast-evolving and fluid. We are continuously recalibrating our plans and efforts as the situation develops,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
“We are providing the public with constant updates and advisories as frequently as possible, so all I ask from the public now is to heed the advisories from official DOH channels and to refrain from sharing unverified and unvalidated information. I assure the public that we will keep you abreast of any information that we have,” he added.
Meanwhile, in China, a woman with coronavirus gave birth to a healthy baby girl, giving hope to thousands of people amid the nCoV scare.
A mother with #coronavirus gave birth to a healthy baby in NE China's Harbin Sixth People's Hospital. The newborn tested negative for the virus.
Amid the current novel coronavirus (nCoV) President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a temporary travel ban on all travelers coming from mainland China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau.
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In an interview with Dobol B sa News TV, Senator Bong Go announced the president's order.
"Sa ngayon ay mag-i-implement na ng temporary travel ban on travelers coming from any part of China and its special administrative regions on top of the existing temporary travel ban imposed on those coming from Hubei province and other affected areas. Taking into consideration the concerns raised by key government officials and health experts, the President made a decision and has agreed to adopt this recommendation and implement it immediately as additional precautionary measure to protect the Filipinos," he said.
"Magkakaroon tayo ng temporary ban banning the entry of any person except Filipino citizens and holders of permanent resident visa issued by the Philippine government directly coming from China and its special administrative regions. Kung ibang bansa naman ang pinanggalingan mo pero nanggaling ka sa China within 14 days before arrival at hindi ka Pilipino o Philippine resident, hindi ka makakapasok sa Pilipinas," he further explained.
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In a press conference on Sunday, February 2, health officials confirmed the first nCoV death in the Philippines: a 44-year-old male who died on Saturday, February 1. While the patient was stable and showed signs of improvement in his last few days, his condition deteriorated within his last 24 hours resulting to his demise.
It was disclosed that the country recorded two confirmed cases: a 38-year-old Chinese female and her companion, a 44-year-old Chinese male. Both patients are from Wuhan, China and arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last January 21.They were both admitted for isolation and supportive treatment at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The DOH's Epidemiology Bureau (EB) is urrently conducting contact tracing of passengers aboard the flights of the two positive cases. EB has secured the manifestos of the flights and is in close coordination with the concerned airlines. Contact tracing activities are ongoing in Cebu and Dumaguete, and in other places where the patients stayed and traveled to.
“The Philippine Government has already implemented a temporary travel ban for travelers coming from China, Macao, and Hong Kong. DOH is monitoring every development on the 2019-nCoV very closely and is taking proactive measures to contain the spread of this virus in our country. This health event is fast-evolving and fluid. We are continuously recalibrating our plans and efforts as the situation develops,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
“We are providing the public with constant updates and advisories as frequently as possible, so all I ask from the public now is to heed the advisories from official DOH channels and to refrain from sharing unverified and unvalidated information. I assure the public that we will keep you abreast of any information that we have,” he added.
The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing two military facilities as possible quarantine areas for hundreds of Filipinos who are coming home from Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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In an interview, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters that the Department of Health (DOH) officials is looking at the naval station on Caballo Island and the Drug Rehabilitation Center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
It can be recalled that the facility on Caballo Island served as the quarantine area for over a hundred Pinoy soldiers when they arrived in the country after a mision in Liberia amid the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The center in Fort Magsaysay, on the other hand, was built to house up to 10,000 drug dependents who were expected to surrender to the government in its “war on drugs".
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Meanwhile, in a press conference on Sunday, February 2, health officials confirmed the first nCoV death in the Philippines: a 44-year-old male who died on Saturday, February 1. While the patient was stable and showed signs of improvement in his last few days, his condition deteriorated within his last 24 hours resulting to his demise.
It was disclosed that the country recorded two confirmed cases in the Philippines: a 38-year-old Chinese female and her companion, a 44-year-old Chinese male. Both patients are from Wuhan, China and arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last January 21.They were both admitted for isolation and supportive treatment at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The DOH's Epidemiology Bureau (EB) is urrently conducting contact tracing of passengers aboard the flights of the two positive cases. EB has secured the manifestos of the flights and is in close coordination with the concerned airlines. Contact tracing activities are ongoing in Cebu and Dumaguete, and in other places where the patients stayed and traveled to.
“The Philippine Government has already implemented a temporary travel ban for travelers coming from China, Macao, and Hong Kong. DOH is monitoring every development on the 2019-nCoV very closely and is taking proactive measures to contain the spread of this virus in our country. This health event is fast-evolving and fluid. We are continuously recalibrating our plans and efforts as the situation develops,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
“We are providing the public with constant updates and advisories as frequently as possible, so all I ask from the public now is to heed the advisories from official DOH channels and to refrain from sharing unverified and unvalidated information. I assure the public that we will keep you abreast of any information that we have,” he added.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday, February 2, the death of the first novel coronavirus (nCoV) patient in the country.
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In a press conference, health officials confirmed that the 44-year-old male died on Saturday, February 1, 2020, saying that he developed severe pneumonia aver the course of his admission. While the patient was stable and showed signs of improvement in his last few days, his condition deteriorated within his last 24 hours resulting in his demise.
It was disclosed that the country recorded two confirmed cases in the Philippines: a 38-year-old Chinese female and her companion, a 44-year-old Chinese male. Both patients are from Wuhan, China and arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last January 21.They were both admitted for isolation and supportive treatment at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
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“We are currently working with the Chinese Embassy to ensure the dignified management of the remains according to national and international standards to contain the disease,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured, telling the public that all measures needed to contain the spread of the virus is being strictly implemented and followed.
Moreover, San Lazaro Hospital has implemented rigorous infection control protocols while caring for these patients. Both patients were isolated following strict isolation standards, and all health personnel who came in contact with them practiced stringent infection control measures and wore appropriate personal protective equipment, it was noted.
Meanwhile, the DOH's Epidemiology Bureau (EB) is urrently conducting contact tracing of passengers aboard the flights of the two positive cases. EB has secured the manifestos of the flights and is in close coordination with the concerned airlines. Contact tracing activities are ongoing in Cebu and Dumaguete, and in other places where the patients stayed and traveled to.
“The Philippine Government has already implemented a temporary travel ban for travelers coming from China, Macao, and Hong Kong. DOH is monitoring every development on the 2019-nCoV very closely and is taking proactive measures to contain the spread of this virus in our country. This health event is fast-evolving and fluid. We are continuously recalibrating our plans and efforts as the situation develops,” Duque said.
“We are providing the public with constant updates and advisories as frequently as possible, so all I ask from the public now is to heed the advisories from official DOH channels and to refrain from sharing unverified and unvalidated information. I assure the public that we will keep you abreast of any information that we have,” he added.
Asymptomatic novel coronavirus (nCoV) transmission is occurring, a top US infectious disease expert confirmed, citing a new study published recently on the New England Journal of Medicine (On NEJM).
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According to the German researchers, the virus was transmitted by people without symptoms in five instances in one cluster of people: from a parent to a daughter, from that daughter to two colleagues, and from one of those colleagues to two other co-workers.
"There's no doubt after reading this paper that asymptomatic transmission is occurring. This study lays the question to rest," National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci noted.
The fact that asymptomatic persons are potential sources of infection may warrant a reassessment of transmission dynamics of the current outbreak, the paper stated.
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The new study
On the NEJM website, the case of the 33-year-old otherwise healthy German businessman (Patient 1) was cited. Patient 1 became ill with sore throat, chills, and myalgias. The following day, a fever of 39.1°C (102.4°F) developed, along with a productive cough. By the evening of the next day, he started feeling better so he went back to work.
"Timeline of Exposure to Index Patient with Asymptomatic 2019-nCoV Infection in Germany.
Before the onset of symptoms, he had attended meetings with a Chinese business partner at his company near Munich on January 20 and 21. The business partner, a Shanghai resident, had visited Germany between January 19 and 22. During her stay, she had been well with no signs or symptoms of infection but had become ill on her flight back to China, where she tested positive for nCoV," the study disclosed.
"Days later, three additional employees at the company tested positive for nCoV (Patients 2 through 4 in Figure 1). Of these patients, only Patient 2 had contact with the index patient; the other two patients had contact only with Patient 1. In accordance with the health authorities, all the patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection were admitted to a Munich infectious diseases unit for clinical monitoring and isolation. So far, none of the four confirmed patients show signs of severe clinical illness," it further explained.
Public Health Emergency of International Concern
Following the advice of the Emergency Committee, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the nCoV outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Still, the committee believes that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk.
"It is important to note that as the situation continues to evolve, so will the strategic goals and measures to prevent and reduce spread of the infection," the WHO statement noted.
"The declaration of a PHEIC should be seen in the spirit of support and appreciation for China, its people, and the actions China has taken on the frontlines of this outbreak, with transparency, and, it is to be hoped, with success. In line with the need for global solidarity, the Committee felt that a global coordinated effort is needed to enhance preparedness in other regions of the world that may need additional support for that," it further stated.
Meanwhile, amid the outbreak scare, an expert clarified one of the biggest misconception when it comes to the nCoV:
Taking care of one's oral health lowers the chances of being a carrier of different viruses, an expert said amid the threat of the novel coronavirus (nCoV); advising people to to gargle with lukewarm water and salt.
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"Maging part na po ng oral hygiene ang pagmumumog po ng maligamgam na tubig na may asin—may coronavirus scare man o wala," Dr. Rey Salinel said in a recent television interview.
"Marami pong namamatay na bacteria at viruses sa high-salt concentration," he added.
Moreover, he advised the public to exercise frequent handwashing and sanitizing with alcohol-based products, noting, "Huwag ninyo pong hawakan ang mga mata ninyo, ilong ninyo, bibig ninyo kasi 'yan po ang portal of entry. Napaka-importante pong malinis ang kamay."
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Following the advice of the Emergency Committee, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the nCoV outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Still, the committee believes that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk.
"It is important to note that as the situation continues to evolve, so will the strategic goals and measures to prevent and reduce spread of the infection," the WHO statement noted.
"The declaration of a PHEIC should be seen in the spirit of support and appreciation for China, its people, and the actions China has taken on the frontlines of this outbreak, with transparency, and, it is to be hoped, with success. In line with the need for global solidarity, the Committee felt that a global coordinated effort is needed to enhance preparedness in other regions of the world that may need additional support for that," it further stated.
The World Health Organization has for the first time recognized “burn-out” in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is widely used as a benchmark for diagnosis and health insurers.
The decision, reached during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, which wraps up on Tuesday, could help put to rest decades of debate among experts over how to define burnout, and whether it should be considered a medical condition.
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The World Health Organization has for the first time recognized “burn-out” in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is widely used as a benchmark for diagnosis and health insurers.
The decision, reached during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, could help put to rest decades of debate among experts over how to define burnout, and whether it should be considered a medical condition. In the latest update of its catalog of diseases and injuries around the world, WHO defines burn-out as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”
It said the syndrome was characterized by three dimensions: “1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; 2) increased the mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and 3) reduced professional efficacy.”
Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life,” according to the classification.
The updated ICD list, dubbed ICD-11, was drafted last year following recommendations from health experts around the world and was approved on Saturday.
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“This is the first time” burnout has been included in the classification, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters.
For the first time also, video gaming is classified as an addiction, listing it alongside gambling and drugs like cocaine. So, if you are experiencing like you are losing interest in your present job which affects your productivity, you may be experiencing burn-out and you may need to seek medical help.
Be extra careful when feeding your young infants with anything. Sometimes, our eagerness to give our babies nutritious foods may put their health at risk or even worse, it may cost them their life. Be warned: Do not give honey to babies younger than one! Doing so poses the grave risk of botulism in babies.
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A little baby, just six months old, died after his family fed him honey. They were unaware that babies should not be fed honey. Botulism in Babies: Baby's Death Highlights Grave Dangers
According to the report published in The Japan Times, a six-month-old boy in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, died of infant botulism after his family fed him honey.
The honey, according to the report, was mixed in juice and they were giving it to the baby twice a day for about a month.
“We were mixing the honey into store-bought juice and feeding it to our baby because we thought it was good for his body,” a member of the family said. Sadly, the baby had to be rushed to hospital after going into convulsions and suffering respiratory failure. According to the tests, the honey, which the baby ingested, was contaminated with toxin-producing bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum, a clear case of botulism poisoning.
After a month, the baby died. It was the first death caused by infant botulism in Japan since 1986. According to the health ministry, Japan’s first recorded case of the disease was confirmed in Chiba Prefecture in 1986 and the ministry issued a warning the following year to prefectures nationwide not to feed honey to babies. What Is Botulism in Babies? Infant botulism can occur when newborns, who have immature digestive systems, ingest bacteria that produces toxins inside the bowels. It is caused by exposure to Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) spores. Bacteria from the spores can grow and multiply in a baby's intestines, producing a dangerous toxin.
The condition can occur in infants up to 12 months of age, because young babies have immature digestive systems.
Signs and symptoms of botulism in babies begin after three to 30 days after an infant ingests the spores.
Though infant botulism can be treated, it is important to get medical care as soon as possible. Take your baby to the doctor right away if you spot any of these warning signs.
Constipation is often the first sign of botulism that parents notice. It is typically accompanied by floppy movements, weakness, and difficulty in sucking or feeding. Other symptoms of botulism in babies can include: Flat facial expression Poor feeding (weak sucking) Weak cry Decreased movement Trouble swallowing with excessive drooling Muscle weakness Breathing problems Preventing Botulism in Babies
One important way to reduce the risk of botulism in babies is to not give infants honey or any processed food containing honey before their first birthday.
Honey is a proven source of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. These bacteria are harmless to older kids and adults because their digestive systems are more mature.
It is best to pressure-cook home-canned foods to reduce the risk of contamination with C. botulinum spores. Boil home-canned foods for 10 minutes before serving them.
Also, Clostridium botulinum spores are everywhere in the environment. They're in dust and dirt, and even in the air. Avoid infant exposure to potentially contaminated soil or dust. Exposure to contaminated soil occurs most often near construction and agricultural sites or other areas where soil is disturbed.
How sure are you that your kidneys are healthy? According to experts, there are signs that you may have kidney infection.
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"Kidney infections should not be messed around with. At the first indication that something is obviously wrong, even if it is just a mild urinary tract infection, consult your physician. It is usually much easier to tackle infections early on, than to wait and see how things turn out," Natural Food Series noted.
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And because--as Benjamin Franklin said--"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," one must be aware of the signs of having kidney failure. Some of which are:
1. Increased Urinary Frequency
Increased urinary frequency is the first obvious sign of having a urinary tract infection or kidney infection. The need to urinate several times in the space of a few minutes goes on and on until one starts to address the underlying infection.
“Urinary frequency is common to both types of infection, so this is usually one sign that needs to be observed in conjunction with others to come to a diagnosis of a kidney infection,” it was noted.
2. Blood in the Urine
When it comes to kidney infections, blood in the urine is almost always because the bacterial infection has worsened from the initial stage.
“Inflammation along any part of the urinary tract will result in some degree of bleeding, microscopic or otherwise, but if it is highly visible and you have pain characteristic of a kidney infection, it should not be ignored. Women are more likely to see bleeding from these types of infections as there urinary tract is generally longer, with a greater surface area,” it was explained.
3. Urgency Of Urination
People with kidney infections tend to lose the ability to hold their urine, making it necessary for them to go to the nearest washroom immediately.
4. Lower Back Pain
People with kidney disease also experience lower back pain.
“Based on the anatomical position of the kidneys, any process that causes inflammation of this organ, such as an infection will occur with associated pain. The pain may be dull and throbbing, or more intense and penetrating. Regardless, this is a very reliable indicator that you probably have a kidney infection, especially if it occurs with other symptoms such as urinary frequency,” it was explained.
5. Nausea And Vomiting
When nausea and vomiting occur with other common symptoms of kidney infections such as back pain and urinary frequency, one should not ignore it and should immediately seek medical attention.
6. Fever
Kidney infections tend to develop after one have been sitting on a urinary track infections for a while and more likely to occur with fever.
“A fever is indicative that your body is gripping with an infection and actively trying to get control of it. Do not be afraid to use over-the-counter fever reducers to reduce your body temperature, as fever is not something that you need to wait out- that belief is an old wives tale,” it was advised.
7. Cloudy Urine
While cloudy urine is more commonly associated with the presence of a sexually transmitted infection, a high bacterial density could also cause cloudiness in the urine if a kidney infection is left long enough.
This article is filed under Health, Health news, Healthy life news, Newshealth, Healthy Living, Health blogs, kidney infection, signs and symptoms, and health benefits.
