MANILA, Philippines — Philippine health authorities have strengthened the mechanism to fight Ebola virus especially with the expected influx of Filipinos returning to the country for the year-end vacation season.
It was reported that a health worker in New York tested positive for Ebola virus after working in Africa. New York has a large concentration of Filipinos.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said the government is further strengthening an effective program to protect th ecountry against the Ebola virus. “Pinapalakas pa ng ating pamahalaan ang paglatag ng epektibo at matatag na depensa laban sa Ebola virus,” he said. “Palagiang binabanggit ng Pangulo na sa dami ng Pilipinong nasa labas ng bansa, ay inaasahan nating marami rin sa kanila ang uuwi sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan, kinakailangang palakasin natin at paigihin pa ang mga sistema para tiyakin na tayo ay hindi maaapektuhan o hindi lalaganap ang deadly virus na ito sa ating bansa,” he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
He added that all concerned government agencies are doing the necessary preparations and precautions to prevent Ebola from affecting Filipinos.
For instance, the President instructed government agencies to prepare for the possible repatriation of Filipino peacekeepers from Africa, the hotbed of Ebola infections.
The Philippines has a contingent of peacekeepers in Liberia, one of the African countries with highest number of infections.
And for Filipinos coming from other destinations who could be possible carriers of Ebola, they will go through strict screening and quarantine, Coloma said.
“Kung mayroon pong matutunton na mayroong sintomas ng Ebola, ang tawag po dito ay flu-like symptoms, agad po silang dapat na i-isolate at ilagay sa proper facilities na kung saan ay agad na matutunton ‘yung kanilang kondisyon at maihihiwalay po sila para mailayo po sa panganib ang karamihan sa ating mamamayan,” he explained.
If there are individuals who will be tested positive, like the country’s experience on MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus, the government will carry out extensive contact tracing, he added.
“Kaya sa lahat po ng aspeto, pinalalakas natin, pinatatatag natin ang kahandaan ng ating bansa simula doon sa pinanggagalingan mismo ng Ebola na ang pinaka-hotbed nga ay ‘yung West Africa, at inihahanda na ang mga nararapat na hakbang,” Coloma said. PND
