The Philippine government confirmed Monday that a foreign national is now being treated in a state-run hospital for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus.
Health Secretary Janette Garin said the 36-year-old male foreigner from the Middle East was the second case of MERS in the country after the first one was treated and recovered from sickness in February.
The foreigner was admitted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila on Saturday.
Garin, in a televised press conference, described the patient to be on "stable (condition) and very cooperative."
She said that other people who had close contact with the patient are also being monitored.
The official assured the public that there is no reason to be panic.
