Gov't implements more measures to prevent spread of Ebola

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government announced today the implementation of additional measures to prevent the entry and spread of the dreaded Ebola virus disease in the country.

Precautionary measures drawn up by the Departments of Health (DOH), Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Foreign Affairs center on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially those who will be repatriated from Ebola-stricken countries in West Africa.

DOLE has asked recruitment agencies that have deployed OFWs in African countries to report regularly to the government regarding the status of the workers, especially when they exhibit symptoms of the viral hemorrhagic fever.

"The agencies should report at least one week prior to the return of a worker from any of these countries," Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said, referring to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where cases of Ebola virus have been reported.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued a temporary ban on the deployment of OFWs to the three West African countries after they were placed under Alert 2 or " restriction phase."

The Philippines has many OFWs in Ebola-stricken countries. Data show that there are about 880 Filipinos living in Guinea, 1,979 in Sierra Leone and 632 in Liberia, including the 148 Filipino UN Peacekeeping Force.

As of July 31, the number of Ebola cases in affected West African countries has reached 1,323, which includes 729 deaths. The overall case fatality rate is at 55 percent.

Earlier, the DOH said that quarantine personnel at Philippine airports have been instructed to ensure that all incoming travelers will go through thermal scanners. Reagents and testing kits for the early diagnosis of cases have also been readied.