President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Health (DOH) to strengthen its monitoring efforts against the Nipah virus, following rising concerns over the disease, Malacañang announced on Thursday, Jan. 29.
“Patuloy na nakatutok at nagbabantay ang Bureau of Quarantine ng DOH sa Nipah virus na napabalitang na-detect muli sa ibang bansa,” Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
“Ito’y alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na panatilihing ligtas ang mga Pilipino mula sa mga infectious diseases,” Castro added.
According to the Palace official, the DOH has aligned its health protocols with the latest updates from the World Health Organization (WHO).
She added that the DOH remains fully alert and proactive in conducting screening procedures in the country’s borders through on-arrival thermal scanning, trained observation, and close scrutiny of online health declarations.
The Health department is also ramping up its information campaign on the Nipah virus, raising awareness on its symptoms such as fever, headache, and breathing difficulty.
Health officials said the virus can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals such as bats and pigs and also with contaminated fruits.
The Palace Press Officer also advised the public to monitor DOH health updates to ensure safety.
According to the WHO, Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person.
It causes a range of illnesses in infected people from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. (Betheena Unite)
