DOH to heighten border watch amid Ebola outbreak

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it will step up border surveillance following the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa made the statement as he assured the public there is no need to panic following the World Health Organization’s declaration of a “public health emergency of international concern” due to reported deaths and concerns over cross-border transmission.

“Malayo po ang Africa, at tatasan po natin ang bantay sa ating mga borders to make sure hindi makapasok ang Ebola sa ating bansa,” Herbosa said in a video posted online.

(Africa is far, and we will strengthen border monitoring to ensure that Ebola does not enter our country.)

“Ang ating Bureau of Quarantine at ang Epidemiology Bureau ay iha-heighten ang surveillance lalo na sa mga manggagaling sa mga bansang affected, yung Democratic Republic of Congo at Uganda,” he added.

(Our Bureau of Quarantine and Epidemiology Bureau will heighten surveillance, especially for travelers coming from affected countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.)

In a statement, the DOH urged the public to stay updated through official advisories from the agency and the WHO.

“Ang Ebola ay kumakalat lamang kung may direct contact sa bodily fluids ng taong may sakit o sa pasyenteng namatay rito. Hindi ito naipapasa nang mabilis sa hangin,” the agency said.

(Ebola spreads only through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease. It is not easily transmitted through the air.)

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda is linked to the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola first identified in the DRC, where Ebola was originally discovered in 1976.

READ: EXPLAINER: What is Ebola disease?

Ebola disease is a severe and often fatal illness caused by viruses belonging to the Orthoebolavirus genus.

According to the WHO, early symptoms include fever, fatigue or weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and general malaise.

As the disease progresses, patients may also experience vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin rash, or impaired kidney and liver function.

While vaccines and treatments exist for Ebola virus disease caused by the Zaire strain, no approved vaccine or therapy currently exists for Bundibugyo or Sudan virus disease.

Still, the WHO said early supportive care—including hydration, treatment of symptoms, and medical monitoring—can improve survival and may be lifesaving.

The WHO also said it works with countries to strengthen preparedness and support outbreak response, including case management, vaccine and treatment trials, logistics, and training for safe burial practices.—MCG, GMA News