The Ebola pandemic

Will the Ebola virus hit the Philippines? Chances are if we are not ready to combat this ruthless and lethal virus which has become the world’s deadliest outbreak since AIDS and SARS, we are doomed.

The Black Death that plagued the western world during the Middle Ages came from Africa. There is a debate on whether it was a bubonic plague (which spread by infected fleas that lived on black rats) or an Ebola-like virus (that is transmitted directly from person to person). But many suggest that it was indeed from an Ebola-like virus. Thus, the pandemic!

If this serious threat is not addressed properly and governments around the world do not take it as a top priority and major concern, then, we will have difficulty controlling the spread across international waters. As it is, the reported cases of the virus keeps on increasing day by day. The latest Ebola scare was reported on high seas with Mexico and Belize closing their ports to a cruise ship carrying a health worker who handled samples from ‘patient zero’ who died of the Ebola virus. As of October 8, 2014, the following are cases of confirmed, probable or suspected cases of Ebola: Guinea, 1350 cases, 778 deaths; Liberia, 4076 cases, 2,316 deaths; Nigeria, 20 cases, 8 deaths; Senegal, 1 case, 0 deaths; Sierra Leone, 2950 cases, 930 deaths; Spain, 1 case, 0 deaths; and United States, 1 case and 1 death.

Ebola is a virus with a high fatality rate that was first identified in Africa in 1976. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by one of five different Ebola viruses: Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV) and Reston ebolavirus (RESTV). Four of the strains can cause severe illness in humans and animals. The fifth, Reston virus, has caused illness in some animals, but not in humans.

The virus is named after the Ebola River, where the virus was first recognized in 1976, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is extremely infectious but not extremely contagious. It is infectious, because an infinitesimally small amount can cause illness. Laboratory experiments on primates suggest that even a single virus may be enough to trigger a fatal infection.

Symptoms of Ebola typically include: weakness, fever, aches, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Additional experiences include rash, red eyes, chest pain, throat soreness, difficulty in breathing or swallowing and bleeding (including internal). Typically, symptoms appear 8-10 days after exposure to the virus, but the incubation period can span two to 21 days.

When Secretary Ona was asked if the Philippines was ready for a possible Ebola threat, he said “Yes!” How can he be so sure and confident that our country is ready with the Ebola virus when our public hospitals remain in substandard state? What about our nurses and other health workers? Do they know the standard procedures on how to deal with the deadly virus?

It is very frustrating to note that instead of improving the public hospitals with proper facilities and good medical equipment around the archipelago, our Health Secretary embarked on an ambitious task and had a P105 million budget from the DAP allocated to stem cell for the Lung Center research. Susmariosep!

Have you actually entered a public hospital? Bacteria of all kinds are sure to thrive in the filth and dearth present everywhere. PGH, San Lazaro, Philippine Orthopedic Hospital, National Childrens’ Hospital, Kidney Institute, Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, Fabella Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center are just among many government hospitals in Manila that need a major refurbishment not to mention the government hospitals in the provinces. Added to this is the obnoxious behavior of some hospital personnel. Surmise to say they need intensive training.

I dare our government officials both local and national to use the public hospitals for their health care treatments and be confined there. If they do this, they will surely prioritize this public health service. Right now the facilities are clearly only meant for the pigs, the rats and the monkeys.

And here we have the Department of Health humoring the people with the “mosquito dance” and all sorts of dances that have nothing to do with improving our health care system. Sanamagan!

My friend Antonio Belzunce went through a horrific public hospital experience just last week at the Malolos Provincial Hospital while helping an indigent family. First, they used a dilapidated ambulance from a smaller hospital. Doesn’t the DOH check both private and public facilities? Why are these vehicles still allowed to run? They should be impounded. They went through all the check-up procedures until the doctors said they needed neurological care. They were asked to transfer to Manila since the hospital did not have the facility and capability to take care of such patients. Meantime, they were asked to stay in the hallway (considered a ward) with a comatose patient. While waiting in the hallway, my friend observed cats freely entering the ICU area inside the hospital. Then a few minutes later, a different cat jumped out of a ceiling hole.

While having coffee with the folks in San Jose, Bulacan, they mentioned that the cats have been a nuisance and that the hospital has changed some procedure for dead babies. Instead of keeping them in wrapped cloths, they put the babies in boxes because the cats would get the dead babies for their meal. A mother of one of the dead babies was present in the conversation and confirmed the stories.

My friend told me that the hospital building looked new from the outside but very old in the inside. In fact, it is not only old but also smelly and dirty, very poorly maintained. The old folk said that the hospital building was constructed only 5 years ago but looks old due to poor and irresponsible management. Anyway, the next day when they settled their bill, they were dumbfounded to find out that they had to pay P10,000 for CT scan and medicines. How can indigent people pay for such an amount? And how can our Health Secretary sleep amidst these conditions? How can he ask for a Stem Cell fund when our hospitals should be the first priority of government? The PhilHealth Card the patient was holding didn’t help either! So how can families afford to pay?

Anyway, going back to the Ebola virus, if it does hit our shores, I suggest we use one of our islands or create a facility closer to nature near the mountains to isolate the patients and protect the people. But I’m sure with the current state of our health care system, nothing will come out of it. With poverty all around us, pollution, garbage, squatter colonies, poor state of public health facilities, bad hygiene and sanitation practices, weak airport control systems (of checking incoming and outbound passengers), weak government and corruption all in place we have high chances of becoming victims of the virus. And as always in times of crisis and calamities, we put our hands together in prayer and kneel on bended knees to ask God for protection because our government just can’t handle heat.