1. 1. Practice proper hand hygiene always,by washing your hands with soap or handrubs with alcohol before and after eating; before and after handling, cooking and preparing food after coughing, sneezing and  using the toilets; and before and  after touching animals
   2. Practice proper cough etiquette by covering your mouth and nose while sneezing  or coughing. Use a facial tissue when coughing o rsneezing and cover your mouth and nose with it.  Dispose the tissue in a waste basket.
   3. Avoid contact with farm and domesticated animals, including camels.
   4. Avoid contact with sick or infected with MERSC-OV. lf you have respiratory illness stay home and wear a surgical mask to protectyour familymembers.
   5. If you are a health worker, strictly follow infection control protocols in your work.
   6. Visit your doctor, a hospital or health facility immediately if symptoms of MERS-CoV manifest  itself, including persistent coughing, and others.
   7. If you were in close contact with a confirmed MERSCoV patient, comply with local health regulations and postpone any trip abroad until after test results are negative.
   8. Practice healthy habits such as regularexercise, balanced and nutritional diet, and adequate sleep of at least 8 hours, as it would help strengthen the body's immunity.

The DFA and DOH also advised Filipinos in the Middle East not to panic and be taken in by false claims and rumours. One rumour alleges that “UAE health authorities “ have warned people to stay away for 72 hours from places such as malls, beaches, hospitals, parks and other locations believed to be “hotspots for the new killing virus”. The Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) subsequently denied issuing this statement.

To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 243 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV worldwide , including 93 deaths since March 2012.

There is no vaccine for the virus, and its source is still unknown, although camels and bats have been pointed as possible causes sources. END.

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