(Eagle News) — Malacanang assured the public on Monday that the Ebola virus found in monkeys by local health authorities is not a threat to human health.
This was after the Department of Health (DOH) had confirmed on Saturday that the virus, which has infected some monkeys in an undisclosed facility in the country, is indeed the Ebola Reston Virus (ERV).
Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.quoted the DOH as saying that this strain of Ebola virus was non-pathogenic to humans, meaning it does not cause any disease in humans. Its presence was also previously documented in the country.
“Ayon sa Department of Health, ang uri ng Ebola na nakita sa bansa ay hindi kahalintulad sa strain na kumalat sa Africa,” Secretary Coloma said during a press briefing.
“Ang klase ng Ebolang ito, ang Ebola Reston, ay dati nang nakita sa bansa at naidokumento ng DOH na hindi nakakapagdulot ng anumang sakit sa tao,” the Palace official added.
Coloma said the inter-agency Committee on Zoonosis, which was formed in 2011 by virtue of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Administrative Order No. 10, is working on the Ebola virus case.
He said this Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Zoonosis includes the DOH, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said these agencies will help in implementing programs and strategies that are meant to prevent, control and treat the so-called zoonotic diseases, or diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans, and vice-versa.
The DOH on Saturday confirmed positive cases of ERV virus among monkeys in a facility that the DOH did not disclose.
According to Health Secretary Janette Garin, the ERV may be transmitted to humans, without resulting in illness.
Garin also said that the DOH is also doing everything it could to prevent the spread of this virus.
“The threat to human health is likely to be low or none for healthy adults,” A DOH report said.
As a precautionary measure, blood samples were collected from all employees of the facility where the monkeys with Ebola Reston Virus had been examined.
“Their blood samples were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for ERV antibodies using ELISA or Enzyme Immunosorbent assay. The results yielded negative for ERV,” said the DOH report.
While it does not cause any human illness, the DOH said it will continue to monitor the health status of the staff currently employed in the said facility.
“Maraming klase ng Ebola. Meron Ebola na grabe ang epekto sa hayop ngunit hindi naapektuhan ang tao. This is a possible case of Ebola Reston. Ito ang pinakamabait na Ebola Virus sa tao,” Secretary Garin said.
She also called on the public to remain calm and be vigilant.
“We call on the public not to panic as wrong information may lead to more harm than help in the community. Vigilance is still needed. Let us be precautious, and adhere to the reminders given by the DOH,” Garin said.
“This is not something new and was present in the Philippines before. Allow us to emphasize that the present situation is limited to monkeys. Ang importante ito ay nakita, nalaman, at hinahanap ang pinanggalingan upang mapigilan ang pagkalat,” Garin added. (with a PND report)