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MANILA, Philippines- Although the Philippines is still Ebola-free, President Benigno Aquino III thinks preventing the spread of the epidemic should be the government’s priority.
“For the Philippines, specifically, the fact that we have ten million of our countrymen living and working abroad makes these kinds of outbreaks a paramount concern,” he said during his speech at the 65th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are about 3,500 OFW’s working in Ebola-stricken countries.
PNoy urged the government to educate Filipinos about epidemic diseases without causing fear and panic. He also asked for efficient and safe monitoring of Filipinos and their exposure to diseases.
Aquino recently signed an executive order which mandates the formation of an interagency task force responsible for managing infectious diseases in the Philippines.
Furthermore, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration(POEA) director for OFW health concerns Nini Lanto said that recruitment agencies have been obliged to closely monitor Filipino workers in the West African countries affected by Ebola virus.
The recruitment agencies are also tasked to immediately report cases to DOH, POEA, and DFA.
The current Ebola virus outbreak is considered the largest and worst in history. The disease which started in March this year has taken the lives of over 3,800 people mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Last week, a Liberian national, who recently flew in from his country to US, died of Ebola while in Dallas, Texas.
Signs and Symptoms
According to an infographic by the DOH, initial signs and symptoms of the deadly disease include the following:
- fever
- intense weakness
- headache
- throat
- joint and muscle pains
Secondary symptoms include:
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- rash
- diarrhea
- impaired kidney and liver function
Symptoms such as internal and external bleeding, hiccups, red eyes and hiccups may be observed in some cases. Some patients may also show bleeding in body openings.
How to avoid Ebola Virus
There is still no cure or vaccine for the disease, but there are many ways to prevent the spread of it. Here are some tips from the DOH:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Avoid overworking.
- Have enough rest and sleep
- When coughing,cover your mouth with a handkerchief.
Moreover, DOH Secretary Enrique Ona warned OFW’s showing symptoms to get a health clearance from the country of employment before returning to the Philippines.
“Any OFW who plans to return home but is manifesting fever, headache, intense weakness, joint and muscle pains and sore throat is urged to seek clearance with local health authorities from the country of employment before travelling back to the Philippines in order to prevent the entry of Ebola virus in the country,”
