MANILA, Philippines — Despite the recent declaration of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a “public health emergency of international concern,” the risk of it spreading to the Philippines and other countries in Western Pacific remains low. This was the assurance given by the World Health Organization (WHO) as it underscored the importance for everyone to remain vigilant against the disease. Most critically, these restrictions can also compromise local economies and negatively affect response operations from a security and logistics perspective,” it noted. According to WHO, the committee does not consider entry screening at airports or other ports of entry outside the African Region to be necessary. The origin of the virus is unknown but evidence suggests that its host could be fruit bats or Pteropodidae.

Source: Philippine Star July 20, 2019 17:15 UTC