MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it is on heightened alert and closely coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) following the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda that has already left dozens dead and hundreds of suspected infections under investigation.
Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo said the Philippines has been notified through international health channels after the WHO raised concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in Central Africa.
Domingo said the WHO advisory is particularly important for countries such as the Philippines that do not share land borders with the affected areas but remain vulnerable through international travel.
“The DOH is always ready and on alert. We have been notified through the IHR channels, and are in active coordination with the WHO,” the agency said.
According to the WHO, countries outside the outbreak zones have been advised to intensify public information campaigns for travelers, including awareness on Ebola risks, preventive measures, and protocols for possible exposure.
The WHO also recommended that nations prepare contingency measures for the evacuation and repatriation of nationals who may be exposed to the virus abroad.
“Among others, the general public should be provided with accurate and reliable information on the Bundibugyo outbreak and ongoing measures to reduce risk,” the DOH said.
The WHO earlier reported that the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and warned that neighboring countries bordering Congo remain at high risk for further transmission.
As of Saturday, health authorities in Congo’s Ituri province recorded 80 suspected deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases, and 246 suspected infections across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected persons or animals. Symptoms usually include sudden fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
Health authorities advised the public to avoid contact with sick individuals or contaminated materials, practice proper hand hygiene, and immediately seek medical attention if symptoms develop after travel to affected areas.
Despite the growing number of suspected cases, the WHO clarified that the outbreak has not yet met the criteria to be classified as a global pandemic emergency.
The DOH also recalled the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, during which Filipino United Nations peacekeepers returning from Liberia underwent a mandatory 21-day quarantine.
The agency noted that the Philippines did not record any Ebola case during that period, and no deaths were reported locally before the WHO lifted the global emergency declaration in 2016./PN
