Marcos orders intensified surveillance vs Nipah virus

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has ordered the intensified surveillance of the Nipah virus and other infectious diseases, with the aim to safeguard public health.

This was according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Thursday. 

“Patuloy na nakatutok at nagbabantay ang Bureau of Quarantine ng DOH sa Nipah virus na napabalitang na-detect muli sa ibang bansa,” Castro said at a press briefing.

(The DOH's Bureau of Quarantine continues to monitor the Nipah virus after it was reported that it has been detected anew in other countries.) 

“Ito’y alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na panatilihing ligtas ang mga Pilipino mula sa mga infectious diseases,'' she added. 

(This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the protection of Filipinos against infectious diseases.)

READ: What is Nipah virus?

Health protocols

Castro said the Department of Health has aligned its health protocols with the latest updates given by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Palace official also said the DOH remains fully alert and proactive in conducting screening procedures in the country’s borders through on-arrival thermal scanning, trained observation, as well as close scrutiny of online health declarations.

Further, the DOH is ramping up its information campaign about the Nipah virus in order to raise awareness to the public about its symptoms such as fever, headache, and breathing difficulty.

According to DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, the Nipah virus was observed in 2014 in Sultan Kudarat, where 17 cases were reported.

The WHO said that the NiV is a zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from contaminated food or between people.

In the Philippines, WHO reported that some bat species were found to be at risk of NiV infection.

Other animals, such as pigs and horses, may also be infected with NiV. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News