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Saturday, March 29, 2003
Gov't maps out plans v. epidemic ailments
By Minerva S. Zamora and Diosdado Cervantes Jr.
CLARK ECOZONE -- President Arroyo's government is setting up "three layers" of protection for the public in case chemical warfare is used in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The National Security Council (NSC) and the Department of Health (DOH) said the plan is based on a possible "worst case scenario" that entails the mass evacuation of Filipinos exposed to biological weapons in the Middle East.
Director Flor Villar of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Luzon said the arrangement includes establishing air-conditioned tents at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) to serve as holding area for those who may be afflicted with contagious diseases like smallpox.
Villar denied that the tents would be used for Filipinos abroad getting afflicted with the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Dr. Eric Tayag, assistant director of the DOH in the region, said the NSC and DOH have already determined three layers of strategies in "worst scenario" cases.
"The first layer is cordoning the victims in the countries they are staying. We expect those found to be afflicted with contagious diseases to be quarantined and treated in the foreign countries before they are allowed to board airlines to fly back home," he said.
In case when contagious illnesses of Filipinos in other countries are not detected, the Bureau of Quarantine has been placed on alert at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The third layer of protection against contamination would be the issuance of public advisories and raising the alert in public hospitals nationwide so they would immediately report cases of unusual ailments not only among Filipinos who have returned from abroad, but also among tourists, he said.
"We have decided to issue such advisory to private hospitals. The hospitals are now told to report new syndromes they find difficulty in diagnosing," he added.
Villar, whose regional office is involved in preparations for the possible use of the DMIA for possible mass evacuation of OFWs in the Middle East, said only cases of smallpox is being considered for diversion to the airport here.
"For one thing, smallpox is more contagious than other ailments that could result from biological weapons. I don't think anthrax is even contagious," she noted.
She said the diversion of airlines found to have passengers suffering from smallpox would be done so as not to congest air traffic at the NAIA, as those found with contagious ailments are normally barred from stepping out of the aircraft unless quarantine facilities are immediately available, she explained.
"But it should not be a cause for alarm since we have vaccines for smallpox despite the fact that in 1987, the World Health Organization already declared the Philippines free from smallpox," Villar also said.
Tayag added that while the Bureau of Quarantine has enough capabilities at the NAIA, health officials have agreed that it is still best to immediately transport victims of contagious illnesses to the San Lazaro Hospital or the DOH's Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.
But Tayag said that the plan to use the DMIA as holding area for ailing OFWs is not final.
"The government's regional hospital is too far (from Clark) in San Fernando City. Clark could be used only in a worst case scenario is case there would be too many who would be found afflicted with ailments upon their landing at the NAIA," he added.
He also said the government has enough vaccines against smallpox whose incubation period, he noted, is even less than seven days.
(March 29, 2003 issue)
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