DFA not raising alert level in Ebola-affected African countries

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday that it was not raising the crisis alert level in West African countries affected by the Ebola virus.

“Still no plans to raise alert level 2 in the West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia,” said Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose.

The DFA raised in July crisis alert level 2 (Restriction Phase) in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone due to the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa.

Under alert level 2, Filipinos in these countries are instructed to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places and take extra precautions.

Only returning overseas Filipino workers with existing employment contracts would be allowed to go back to the host country in Western Africa.

Meanwhile, the DFA said Saudi Arabia gave assurance that they are in control of the situation as more than two million Muslim pilgrims from all over the world gathered for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

“We take note of the assurance of Saudi Arabia that they have control of the situation there,” Jose said.

The Philippines is also confident that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be able to deal with the new cases of Ebola in the United States.

“We’re confident CDC will be able to deal with the situation and our advise to Filipinos in the US is to know more of the Ebola, since to be informed is to be forewarned, and of course they should heed advice of the CDC,” he added.

A fifth American was diagnosed with Ebola since the outbreak began.

The Ebola virus is an extremely contagious disease, which is spread from close contact with bodily fluids of infected organisms, both human and animal.

There is no known available cure or vaccine for the disease. Incubation period is from 2 to 21 days.

According to the World Health Organization  (WHO), there have been 7,469 reported cases of Ebola in West Africa, and 3,431 deaths attributed to the virus.