Most co-passengers of nCoV fatality asymptomatic, others being tracked, says airline

MANILA, Philippines – Most of the co-passengers of the Chinese tourist who became the first reported 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease fatality outside China on a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight, who have already been contacted by the airline and are not experiencing flu-like symptoms.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the airline has already contacted most of the over 150 passengers of PAL Flight PR 2542 from Dumaguete to Manila on Jan. 25, 2020 which carried the 44-year-old Chinese man who died on Saturday after testing positive for nCoV.

On the same flight was his partner, a 38-year-old Chinese woman who was the first confirmed nCoV patient in the Philippines.

“So far, based sa update—kasi may emergency meeting tayo kahapon—lahat ng pasahero, wala naman[g sakit]. They are okay, wala namang nakikita na flu-like symptoms,” she said over DZMM on Monday.

(So far, based on the latest update—because we called an emergency meeting yesterday—all passengers are not sick. They are okay. They did not exhibit flu-like symptoms.)

She added PAL will advise the public once all of the passengers have been contacted.

Villaluna, however, added that PAL is having difficulty getting in touch with passengers who did not register their phone numbers before boarding the flight.

PAL earlier announced that the crew of the said flight is on self-quarantine for 14 days.

Villaluna said PAL also advised passengers of the flight to immediately contact the hotlines of the Department of Health should they start experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, in an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Monday, said that some persons who have been in close contact with the infected individuals are being assessed by the Department of Health’s epidemiology and surveillance unit.

 GSG