NSC, DOH map out plans for bio attacks in Mideast

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The National Security Council (NSC) and the Department of Health (DOH) are mapping out plans for a "worst case scenario" of biological warfare in the Middle East that would require the mass evacuation of Filipino workers there.

The two agencies have identified three "layers" of strategies to protect the public from possible contamination from contagious diseases that could be brought in by returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and even tourists.

Flor Villar, Central Luzon director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said the plans include establishing air-conditioned tents at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here to serve as holding area for those who would be found afflicted with smallpox.

She denied that the tents would also be used for victims of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a report that has caused panic among residents of communities surrounding the Clark special economic zone whose officials have vowed to block such a move.

Dr. Eric Tayag, assistant regional director of the DOH, said the NSC and the DOH have determined three layers of strategies in a possible worst case scenario of biological attacks in the Middle East.

"The first layer is cordoning off the victims in the countries they are staying. We expect those found to be afflicted with contagious diseases to be quarantined and treated in the (host) countries before they are allowed to board airlines to fly back home," he said.

Should there be instances when victims of contagious diseases are not detected in their countries of origin, Tayag said the Bureau of Quarantine has been placed on alert at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for their quarantine.

The third layer of protection against contamination would be the issuance of public advisories and alerting public hospitals nationwide to immediately report cases of unusual ailments not only among returning Filipinos but also tourists, he said.

"We also have decided to issue such an advisory to private hospitals. The hospitals are now told to report new syndromes they find difficulty in diagnosing," he added.

Villar, whose office is involved in the preparations for the possible use of the DMIA should there be a mass evacuation of OFWs from the Middle East, said only cases of smallpox are being considered for diversion to the airport here.

"For one thing, smallpox is more contagious than other ailments that could result from biological weapons. I don’t think anthrax is even contagious," she said.

She said airlines found to have passengers suffering from smallpox would be diverted so as not to congest air traffic at the NAIA, as those found with contagious ailments are normally barred from stepping out of the aircraft unless quarantine facilities are immediately available, she said.

"But it should not be a cause for alarm since we have vaccines for smallpox despite the fact that in 1987, the World Health Organization already declared the Philippines free from smallpox," Villar said.

Tayag said that while the Bureau of Quarantine has enough capabilities at the NAIA, health officials have agreed that it would still be best to immediately transport victims of contagious illnesses to the San Lazaro Hospital or the DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Tayag, however, said the plan to use the DMIA as holding area for ailing OFWs is not yet final.

"The government’s regional hospital in the City of San Fernando is too far (from Clark). Clark could be used only in a worst case scenario should there be too many who would be found afflicted with ailments upon their landing at the NAIA," he added.

He said the government has enough vaccines against smallpox whose incubation period, he noted, is even less than seven days.