Amid the mysterious disease that hounds China, the Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday encouraged Filipinos to avoid travelling to the said country for the time being.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that Chinese authorities are still investigating the virus behind the mysterious disease that already affected 59 individuals in Wuhan, China.
“Iwasan muna ang byahe sa China. Kung saka-sakaling meron kayong negosyo sa Wuhan, baka mas magandang ipagpaliban muna natin sa ngayon at maghantay tayo hangga’t ang Chinese Ministry of Health ay makapagbigay ng malinaw na advisory,” said Duque in a radio interview.
Duque said that they are also closely coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Health Regulation.
The health chief said that some of the symptoms reported in patients were fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, and some have lesions on their lungs.
“Napag-alaman ko mula sa World Health Organization Country Representative (to the Philippines) Dr. (Rabindra) Abeyasinghe na 59 na ang nagkakaroon ng ganitong mga sintomas pero ang pagkilala o pagtukoy doon sa virus ay kasalukuyang ginagawa pa rin,” said Duque.
Meanwhile, Duque advised the public to observe proper hand washing and cough etiquette as these are simple interventions to prevent the spread of illnesses.
“Yung mga simpleng praktikal na mga bagay-bagay ay nakakatulong sa paghinto o pagkalat ng mga sakit lalo na ‘yung mga virus na pwede talagang makahawa sa pamamagitan ng respiratory droplets. Palakasin ang katawan at resistensya,” he said.
Last Sunday, the DoH said that the Bureau of Quarantine is on alert and closely monitoring all incoming travelers, especially those manifesting fever or signs of respiratory infection, in all seaports and airports in the country amid reports of the mysterious disease in China. (Analou De Vera)
