Ebola virus restricts Filipino peacekeepers' movement

MANILA, Philippines - The movement of Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia has been restricted amid the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the restriction is part of the precautionary measures implemented to ensure the safety of United Nations (UN) contingents.

“All non-essential movements are restricted. All offices remain open but personnel should limit their movements between their accommodations (barracks) and their offices,” Zagala said in a press briefing on Friday.

Zagala said none of the Filipino peacekeepers has contracted the virus, which has affected Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

“As long as they are inside their compound and off-duty restrictions [are followed], then they will be okay,” he said.

There are 115 Filipino soldiers in Liberia, all of them members of the Philippine Air Force. Led by Col. Glicerio Peralta, the peacekeeping team was deployed last December and is expected to end its tour of duty in September or October.

Zagala said the UN has issued a memorandum outlining the precautionary measures as early as March.

In the memorandum, all peacekeeping teams were directed to suspend routine meetings with local communities “unless determined relevant to the chain of command.” Off-duty movements that go beyond offices and barracks have also been prohibited.

UN contingents in Liberia were also advised to avoid direct physical contact such as handshakes and kissing and direct body contact with body fluids of infected or dead persons or animals.

Peacekeepers were also discouraged from making direct contacts with animals like fruit bats and apes and from eating their raw meat.

UN encouraged members of the peacekeeping teams to wash their hands with soap and water as frequently as possible and to treat water with chlorine before drinking.

Zagala assured the families of Filipino soldiers that everything is being done to ensure their safety.

“Our peacekeepers deployed in Liberia were already advised to follow strict regulations being implemented to prevent further contamination,” Zagala said.

“Our commitment to the United Nations mission in pursuit of global stability and security has not changed despite the emergence of the Ebola,” he added.