Ebola

EDITORIAL

The dreaded Ebola disease maybe occurring in far Africa but, then, it is not far fetched that it could enter the country. This early, the Dept. of Health should issue specific advisories on the matter like though the media on what people would do if it would enter the country considering that even members of the media are ignorant about it.

An announcer of a radio station in Baguio City was heard yakking Ebola could be transferred through the air contrary to pronouncements of Health authorities that this was not so.  

In Baguio, mayor Mauricio Domogan recently met with the health and private medical authorities recently to firm up plans against Ebola virus, if ever the dreaded disease enters the city through travelers from infected countries.    

Health authorities and medical practitioners from the Saint Louis University Sacred Heart Hospital (SLUSHH), Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital (NDLH), Pines City Doctors Hospital (PCDH), Baguio Medical Center (BMC), the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) attended the meeting.

 Newly-appointed Health Services Officer Rowena Galpo represented the Baguio Health Department. Family members or relatives from overseas, from Ebola-infected countries such as Liberia or Sierra Leone were advised to undergo quarantine for 21 days, which is the incubation period.

Once flu or dengue-like symptoms are observed, even at private hospitals, it was agreed a physician assigned to Ebola cases would evaluate and confine the patient at a specially-equipped room of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

An ambulance with special facilities would be ready for patient transport to San Lazaro Hospital, with a protective partition between the passenger and driver’s area.  A health committee is assigned to monitor said cases, it was known.

Not even the most modern hospital or advanced technologies have discovered vaccine or control to Ebola, Health officials said warning the disease is deadly.

According to Domogan, only Saint Luke’s Hospital, Manila is authorized and has committed to conduct research to develop an Ebola vaccine. Ebola, could be transmitted through close contact with blood, secretion or bodily fluids from infected person and is not airborne, it was known. Care, however should be taken as there could be mutations which may transmit the virus.  

 Symptoms are similar to Dengue fever or flu: fever, sore throat, muscle pain, headache which may progress to vomiting, diarrhea with a noticeable rash. After some time, there may be failure of the liver and kidneys, and internal bleeding or bleeding from bodily openings. 

The mayor rued the situation with then Meningococcemia scare in 2004 as panic spread over the city. That shouldn’t have happened if proper preparations were done and correct information given, he said. What are other government offices doing about the matter in Northern Luzon or nationwide? It may seem farfetched, but then, when disaster strikes, it always pays to be ready.