EBOLA VIRUS IN THE PHILIPPINES

A new form of modern black plague runs rampant in the West African Region
and the name of this dreadful disease is the Ebola Virus. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO) Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola
haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is
transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population
through human-to-human transmission. The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote
villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in
west Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas .And according to the
latest statistical findings, the average EVD case fatality rate is around 50% but in
some rural areas specially in Guinea and Seirra Leone cases rates have varied from
25% to 90% in past outbreaks. There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but 2
potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.
Every world leaders shrivels in fear whenever the thought about the spread of
such disease in their country comes before their mind. Even in America, news that a
US aid worker named Dr. Kent Brantly whos mission was to help in the treatment
of patients with EVD in Liberia, was diagnosed of contracting such virus and was
immediately rushed back in his homeland specifically in a special isolation unit at
Emory University Hospital in the State of Atlanta, on Aug. 2, 2014. where the best
treatment facility for rare and new found diseases in the whole world is located. This
brought mass paranoia among the citizens of America specially those who are living
in the State of Atlanta especially when Nancy Writebol an American missionary
stricken with the same disease joined him in the isolation unit.
The Philippine government gives an assurance to the people that such virus
will not enter the country and that they are doing some counter measures to avoid
it. The Philippines designated the Caballo Island as a quarantine area for OFW and
UN peacekeepers who are coming from the West African Region. DOH thru Secretary
Enrique Ona stated that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine along with
Philippine General Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center and Lung Center of the
Philippines will be the place where such disease will be treated if ever such virus will
come here in the Philippines.
Lets take a look at the preparation of the Philippines, the first line of defense
against EVD, the quarantine area. DOH Secretary Enrique Ona was temporarily out
of his office due to the case of improper dissemination of polio vaccines. What is the
action of our government? Appointed Undersecretary Janette Garin of the
Department of Health who was a former Iloilo representative, former Deputy
Majority Leader of the 15th Congress and a physician, steps in to the shoe of his
predecessor.

As a proof that the quarantine area is safe for the UN peace keepers coming
from Liberia along with some OFW also coming from the countries in the West
African Region she visited it with AFP chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. members of the
media without any protective suits on. This action caused a big shock among
doctors specially the members of the Philippine College of Physicians, according Dr.
Anthony Leachon of the Philippine College of Physicians said families of the Filipino
peacekeepers under the 21-day quarantine might ask why are they not allowed to
visit their relatives on the island, according to a report on GMA News' 24 Oras early
Monday evening November 17, 2014. "This is a serious concern," Leachon said."One
Ebola can actually decrease our GDP. It has economic, business and tourism impact.
Baka maapektuhan din ang pagdating ng Santo Papa," he added.
In another interview, Leachon cited the Quarantine Act of 2004 which limits
the travel to quarantine areas.Sa Quarantine Act of 2004, hindi ineencourage ang
unnecessary travel to the quarantine area. Dapat yung risk-benefit ratio, i-analyze
natin, he said. Leachon further said that as soldiers, the peacekeepers are trained
to endure the temporary isolation of the 21-day quarantine. Soldiers are actually
trained to endure suffering, pain and even death. Pwede naman silang mag-skype,
pwede naman silang magtawagan, 21 days lang naman itong hihintayin nila, ang
pagsasakripisyo mo naman ay para sa bayan, he said.
On the other hand those who visited the quarantined peacekeepers have
stood by their decision, saying there was little to no threat of exposure. That Ebola
Virus can spread only thru body fluids so there is nothing to worry about. Then a
picture of them shaking hands under the sun flashed in the television screen.
This is where I hit this issue assuming that the arguendo of the other party
was true and that Ebola virus spreads only thru body fluids such as sweat, tears,
saliva, blood and other bodily fluids that I no longer want to mention by reason of
social sensitivity. The mere shaking of hands itself can be a transfer of body fluids
because looking at the scenario, the sun is already up and its a ceremony
everybody is expected to be in a platoon formation so a tendency of sweating
among the soldiers is normal. Now we all know that the human skin have several
pores just like the hand and then we will correlate this idea with the shaking of the
hands thing the exchange of probable sweaty hands in front of the media. So did
the visitors specially AFP Chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. really avoided contracting
such EVD?
With these kind of leaders that we have in the government acting like sorry
for the word but idiots how can we be so sure that we are safe from these Ebola
Virus Disease? I am starting to doubt our effectivity in terms of responding this kind
of problem. The treatment facility is not enough and the health workers are
unprepared and untrained, quarantine facilities are existing but government leaders
can visit anytime without any protective suits on and shaking hands with suspected
Ebola patients flashing their acts in front of the media. Are we really prepared in

case the Ebola virus comes here in the Philippines? I am starting to think twice, I am
starting to doubt.

Sources:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/388504/news/nation/doctors-group-hitsafp-doh-execs-for-visiting-quarantined-peacekeepers
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/ebola-outbreak-in-west-africa/ http://www.abscbnnews.com/video/nation/10/23/14/health-workers-hindi-pa-kami-handa-sa-ebola