The Department of Health orders the Bureau of Quarantine for intensive screening and monitoring of travelers. Most especially those that came from China and those who show signs of fever or respiratory inspection.
“I urge the public, especially those with history of travel from China, to seek immediate medical consult if experiencing any flu-like symptoms,” Duque said.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that a total of 44 people are affected by the mysterious illness. The disease is said to be similar to viral pneumonia of unknown origin. The said virus started from Wuhan, China and spreading in Hongkong and other areas.
He also encourages the public to practice proper hygiene. This includes frequent hand-washing and wearing masks in crowded places among others.
“Let us also embrace healthy lifestyle, practice proper hand hygiene, and observe cough etiquette to prevent transmission of respiratory infections,” he added.
Symptoms of the mysterious disease
Eric Domingo, DOH Undersecretary in an interview over ANC said that symptoms include the feeling of heaviness. A cold or a cough, slight fever or headache, which is very similar to the symptoms of the flu.
“It’s very similar to any kind of flu. However, this one there was clustering in this province in China. All the people who had it, when they were tested, did not test positive for any regular kind of flu virus. So it’s something new,” Domingo explained.
Domingo assured that all airports and seaports have quarantine officers on guard.
“We’re really just being very, very careful right now in the Philippines. That’s why we put our Bureau of Quarantine on alert. We just have to take a good look at it,” Domingo said.
“All of our ports of entry have our quarantine officers,” he added.
He also clarified that flu shots can only work for influenza viruses and not with this new illness.
“A flu shot will help you on the virus strain that the flu shot is created for which is probably not this virus because this virus until now, has not been identified. There’s no flu shot against it but it will protect you from the currently circulating flu virus,” he added.
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