DOH downplays threat of Ebola virus in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) is not worried over the Ebola virus case in Dallas, Texas, despite the expected influx of Filipino vacationers from the United States this Christmas season.

According to DOH spokesman Lyndon Lee Suy, the Ebola case in Dallas had been detected early so there was no threat that it would spread the deadly virus.

“I don’t think it will actually have an impact on us because that one case has been diagnosed early and the US was able to implement measures to prevent transmission,” he said in a press briefing.

Lee Suy also noted that the country’s surveillance system at the airports had been intensified to monitor the entry of people infected, not only with Ebola, but other contagious diseases as well.

 “We won’t have a problem here if we connect it with the case in the US. We do not let our guard down,” he added.

Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan had come to America weeks ago to visit a relative. It was found that he did not declare in his exit document he had contact with an Ebola patient, 19-year-old Marthalene Williams, whom he helped carry to a taxi to go to a hospital.

The virus can be transmitted through the bodily fluids of infected individuals, including sweat and sperm.

Liberian authorities were reportedly considering prosecuting Duncan when he comes back to Liberia.

As of Sept. 28, the World Health Organization had recorded a total of 7,157 Ebola cases, including 3,330 deaths.

Liberia was worst hit with 3,696 cases, including 1,998 deaths; followed by Sierra Leone with 2,880 cases, including 622 deaths and Guinea with 1,157 cases, including 710 deaths.

OFWs still in Nigeria despite Ebola

Filipino workers are still allowed to seek employment in Nigeria despite the threat of Ebola virus.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Hans Cacdac yesterday clarified that the government had not restricted the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Nigeria.