MANILA – In keeping with the guidelines set forth by the Department of Health (DOH) as part of measures to keep the Ebola virus out of the Philippines, four Filipino peacekeepers who arrived from Liberia last Saturday are currently quarantined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center.
“The decision to let them undergo the quarantine at AFPMC is based on the guidance from [Department of Health],” Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office said in a statement.
The four peacekeepers were taken to the AFP Medical Center in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, immediately after their arrival in Manila on November 22, 11 p.m. via commercial flight.
“They travelled through commercial plane after passing the Ebola screening test and for being declared as “no risk” personnel. The DOH can discuss further details about their quarantine procedures and duration,” Cabunoc added.
The Philippines is considered at risk due to the vast number of Filipinos who work overseas; particularly those who work in Ebola-infected countries. As such, the DOH – under directive of its officials and Acting Health Secretary, Jeanette Garin – has mandated a quarantine period for Filipino workers returning from countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.
The four recent arrivals were not quarantined on Caballo Island, where 133 Filipino peacekeepers have been quarantined since November 13, for a period of 21 days.