Code White in effect vs Ebola

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health Central Visayas is under Code White due to the government’s aggressive measures to make sure the deadly Ebola virus does not enter the country. Code White is the highest alert in the medical profession.

Regional Director Jaime Bernadas yesterday announced this yesterday after calling a meeting for public and private hospital officials to stress the level of preparedness that our health institutions have should this virus infect Filipinos.

“There is imminent threat coming in to the Philippines kay nag-outbreak na in some parts of Africa, in three countries.

The World Health Organization has considered this of international concern. Last week, the DOH central office has conducted an Ebola Summit. DOH is urging both public and private health professionals to disseminate information about the nature of Ebola, how we prepare for it, the status, who are more concerned,” Bernadas explained yesterday.

While a directive to conduct massive information and prevention campaign was issued by the DOH central office, putting the entire region under Code White in preparation for an impending emergency is Bernadas’ own initiative.

Under Code White, the Operational Center under the Health Emergency Management Staff division of the DOH will be open 24/7.

He added that Cebu, being next to Manila in terms of commerce and industry, our region is most vulnerable being an entry point to people from abroad.

With this, a more strict screening and monitoring has been done by the Bureau of Quarantine under DOH.

“The BOQ-7 has strengthened their monitoring capacity. They have hired more personnel or detection surveillance team. Strikto ta especially sa screening sa ports, in making passengers with travel history to affected nations to thoroughly fill out the checklist. Also, we will closely monitor our ports of entry, consulates, foreign soil offices,” the DOH regional chief said.

The two thermal scanners at the Mactan Cebu International Airport will be repositioned to a more strategic spot, he added.

As in past viral diseases of international concern, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center is the designated primary referral hospital in Cebu. In Bohol it is the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City and in Negros Oriental the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City.

“We expand the campaign through media that government is strengthening efforts on monitoring, surveillance and preparedness of hospitals. We will work with provincial hospitals, municipal health offices, city health offices, provincial health offices, disaster risk reduction and management councils. Everybody gets informed,” Bernadas added.

Despite the active campaign against Ebola, Bernadas stressed that the Central Visayas and the rest of the country remain free from Ebola.

Ebola is a viral disease formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever and is considered severe and even fatal illness.

While not being airborne, transmission is through droplet and body fluid transmission (saliva, sexual intercourse, among others).

WHO reports a case fatality rate of around 50 percent currently, while a variety of 25 percent and 90 percent in past outbreaks.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)