Ebola watch: Soldier with fever, in isolation

MANILA, Philippines - One of the Filipino peacekeepers who returned Wednesday from Ebola-stricken Liberia is being tested for the deadly disease after developing fever and showing malaise while under quarantine on an island naval base, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin confirmed that the military officer was flown from Caballo Island to a government hospital in Metro Manila. She did not identify the officer or the hospital.

“The peacekeeper is already undergoing confirmatory tests for Ebola and malaria and we expect the results to come out within 48 hours,” Garin said.

She said it is still too early to conclude that the soldier had contracted Ebola.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through spokesman Col. Harold Cabunoc, appealed for calm.

“Using our clinical eye, it seems that the peacekeeper is just suffering from malaria, but we still have to make sure that he is not afflicted with Ebola so we are conducting a blood test,” Garin said.

She said the peacekeeper was immediately separated from his companions Thursday night after complaining that he was not feeling well. He was suffering from fever, chills and body malaise early yesterday morning, she said.

Garin said the peacekeeper was afflicted with malaria a few months ago and the disease may have recurred, thus the need for him to be tested for both Ebola and malaria.

DOH spokesman Lyndon Lee Suy said the peacekeeper was not manifesting other symptoms of Ebola like vomiting and diarrhea.

“The possibility that the peacekeeper is afflicted with Ebola is very slim, but we still need to limit his exposure so we are stringently following the protocol,” Lee Suy pointed out.

Lee Suy said health personnel attending to the peacekeeper would not be required to use protective equipment until he manifests other symptoms of the disease.

But even if he tested negative for Ebola, Lee Suy said the peacekeeper would be made to stay in hospital until he completes the required 21-day quarantine, in accordance with protocol.

More confirmatory tests would be made on the peacekeeper if he displays symptoms of Ebola long after being declared free of the disease, the health official said.

Health officials said the Ebola virus is not airborne and cannot be easily transmitted to other persons.

Lee Suy said the rest of the 133 peacekeepers who returned from Liberia late Wednesday were doing well under quarantine on Caballo Island in Cavite.

The health condition of the roommates of the sick officer is being closely monitored. 

The military, meanwhile, stressed that the possibility of one of the peacekeepers contracting the disease was remote because they were assigned in an Ebola-free region in Liberia.

“We are appealing to the general public not to panic. We will follow the advise of DOH officials regarding our peacekeeper who has fever. This should not be the cause of panic as the AFP and the DOH are on top of the situation,” Cabunoc said.             

Before their repatriation, the Filipino peacekeepers were subjected to a United Nations-supervised Ebola-screening test in Monrovia and were subsequently cleared. – Jaime Laude