The Department of Health (DOH) said it is closely coordinating with the World Health Organization following the declaration of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern.
In a statement, Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo said the WHO advised countries like the Philippines, which does not share land borders with affected nations, to focus on preventive measures and public awareness.
According to the WHO, countries without direct borders with areas affected by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus should provide travelers with information on health risks, ways to minimize exposure, and guidance on managing possible infections.
Nations are also encouraged to prepare for the possible evacuation and repatriation of citizens exposed to the virus.
“The general public should be provided with accurate and reliable information on the Bundibugyo outbreak and ongoing measures to reduce risk,” the DOH said.
The agency assured the public that it remains on heightened alert and is actively coordinating with the WHO through International Health Regulations (IHR) channels.
Earlier, the DOH confirmed that the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda involves the Bundibugyo virus strain. While the WHO said the situation does not yet qualify as a pandemic emergency, it warned that countries bordering the DRC remain at high risk for further spread.
As of Saturday, health authorities recorded 80 suspected deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed infections, and 246 suspected cases in Ituri province in eastern Congo. The cases were reported across the health zones of Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu.
The DOH also recalled the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which prompted a 21-day quarantine for Filipino United Nations peacekeepers returning from Liberia. The agency noted that no Ebola cases were recorded in the Philippines during that period, and no deaths were reported before the WHO lifted the global health emergency declaration in 2016.
