Ebola spread can be halted – PH expert
The transmission of the feared Ebola Virus (EBOV) can be stopped. A medical expert has expressed this opinion as the Philippine government prepared for the arrival of peacekeepers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from West Africa’s EBOV ravaged Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
Dr. Noel Lee J. Miranda, DVM, MSc, who has 30 years experience as a government officer and in the private sector, cited two countries’ feats, which were able to stop the transmission of the Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Miranda was one of the speakers in a recent roundtable discussion on “Coping with Emerging Infectious Diseases” organized by the Department of Science and Technology-National Academy of Science and Technology (DOST-NAST) in Pasay City.
The Manila Bulletin later asked him through an email to react on the situation raised by the EVD, which had prompted the Philippine government to mount preparations for possible EBOV entry to the country.
Preparations included the quarantine on Caballo Island in Cavite for 21 days of over 100 peacekeepers who arrived on Wednesday from Liberia.
Quarantine of OFWs from the three infected West African countries is also being eyed, and the government has also asked the concerned OFWs to come home amid the continued transmissions of EBOV.
“Ebola virus disease transmissions can be stopped, such as in the U.S. and Spain, and elsewhere. Infected people are normally too sick to move around and infect many others – a great advantage for effective containment,” Miranda, an independent senior consultant on One Health, One Resilience and Disaster Impact-Security-Resilience Management, said in his reply.
He added: “This requires some degree of extraordinary investments on preparedness on hospital and isolation surge capacities, infection prevention and control, laboratory diagnosis and sample management, surveillance and contract tracing, medical countermeasures (drugs and treatments), risk communications, waste management (possibly dead body management), heightened points of exit checks to protect other countries, and whole- of-society (including military and private sector) mobilization through the highest government oversight beyond just health sector (e.g. the National Security Council and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the case of the Philippines.”
Miranda stressed, however, that in the prevention of such diseases, the people, not only the government, have a role to play. “Citizens must be participatory to the efforts, such as reporting cases of high fever… let us report any high suspicion of EVD,” he said.
First day in quarantine
From facing the perils of guarding a conflict-torn country like Liberia, Filipino peacekeepers started yesterday their life both as tourists and outcasts as they began their 21-day quarantine period on Caballo Island.
But unlike the popular reality television show “Survivor” – in which contestants have to find their own food –all the provisions for tourists are at their fingertips, Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief military information officer.
“We have lined up several activities for them for them to have something to do during the quarantine period,” said Cabunoc.
The 133 peacekeepers, including soldiers, policemen and a member of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), arrived at the Villamor Airbase late Wednesday afternoon and immediately boarded buses for Sangley Point in Cavite.
They then boarded a Navy ship which ferried them to Caballo Island.
The ship arrived the Caballo Island at around 1 a. m. yesterday but it was only five hours later when they were allowed to disembark, according to Navy Capt. Luzviminda Camacho, commander of the Task Force Liberia.
“They were happy because they are now in the Philippines. Although they want to spend their time with their families, they said they are willing to be quarantined because that is an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure),” said Camacho.
“They said they are willing to be quarantined especially for the sake of their families,” she added.
All the peacekeepers earlier tested negative from symptoms of Ebola infection but Camacho said they do not want to take the risk of just sending them to their family.
She then revealed that all of the peacekeepers were also subjected to medical check-up after their arrival.
“Their body temperatures are normal,” Camacho revealed.
But she said they will station medical personnel in the island, along with several personnel which will be in charge of the security in the quarantined area of the island. (With a report from Aaron B. Recuenco)