Still no Filipino affected in Ebola-stricken states — DFA

DFA Building / Wikipedia photo

MANILA -– The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said there has been no reported case of a Filipino infected with the deadly Ebola virus that has swept through West Africa.

Ebola has stricken four countries, namely Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and most recently Nigeria. Roughly 10,741 Filipinos are living and working in these areas combined.

“As of this date there have been no reports of Filipinos from our embassy in Abuja which has jurisdiction over these four countries that a Filipino has contracted the virus,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement.

Ebola has a mortality rate between 60 and 96 percent. Its symptoms are fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat and muscle and joint pain.

“Filipinos in these areas are still unaffected and the embassy has provided info on proper hygiene and sanitation to avoid the spread of the disease,” Jose said.Moreover, Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia are in “good physical condition” as reported by the Philippine embassy in Abuja.

Alert level 2 remains in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia while alert level 1 is maintained in Nigeria.

“The embassy remains vigilant in monitoring development on the Ebola virus from the World Health Organization. The embassy is also coordinating with affected countries,” Jose said.

President Aquino has created an inter-agency task force for emerging infectious diseases led by the Department of Health. The task force is mandated to ensure that there are measures in place to prevent the virus from reaching the Philippines.

“In the event a Filipino is infected by an infectious disease, including Ebola, he or she will be given the treatment needed,” Jose said.

The DOH, he added, continues to closely monitor the arrival of Filipinos from Ebola-infected areas.