Phl strengthens airport tests amid Ebola threat

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Health authorities strengthened their preparation against the Ebola virus with the expected influx of overseas Filipinos who are returning home this coming Yuletide season, a senior government official said Saturday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that those who came from Ebola affected countries, when they stepped into the Philippines through the airport, they would immediately undergo the process of screening and if they had any symptom, they would be quarantined.

"We are expecting many of our countrymen will be going home this Christmas season. We need to strengthen our system to ensure that we won't be affected or the deadly epidemic won't spread in our country," he said.

Aside from Western African countries, it was reported recently that a health worker in New York tested positive for Ebola virus after working in Africa.