APD | WHO protocols disseminated to member countries; follow-up on passengers being done

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, World Health Organization representative to the Philippines today said they are evaluating reports as they come and that they have been very careful with the data and the manner of informing the general public to avoid undue alarm.

At a press briefing past midday today, Dr. Abeyasinghe said there are enough protocols that have been extended to member countries should there be fatalities in the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease then known as 2019-nCOV.

Asked of procedures should a foreigner dies in another country, Dr. Abeyasinghe said the World Health Organization has already disseminated the protocols to member states but declined to discuss the technical details.

“Our goal is to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease,” he said in a press briefing with Department of Health officials.

He said during the MERSCov (Middle East Respiratory syndrome coronavirus), it took some time to identify the pathogen unlike the current coronavirus where Chinese authorities were able to identify the virus and device the testing protocol on people with symptoms.

He said the world sees the dividends from the investments by the World Health Organization and different governments in research and further studies. The findings of which are being shared by different countries.

“The WHO does not impose a travel ban or restriction and our recommendations are non-binding to member states,” he added. He called on the media to help inform the general public of the importance of following the WHO’s and the Department of Health’s advisories on food preparation and personal hygiene and avoid consumption of raw and undercooked meat.

Member states should find out whether the virus came from consumed meat according to Dr. Abeyasinghe and that the virus is transferred from one human to another human being.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said the Chinese lady found to be positive for the 2019-nCOV, took a Cebu Pacific flight from Hong Kong last June 21 and took CebuGo plane to Dumaguete on January 22.

“She took a Philippine Air Lines flight to Manila,” Undersecretary Domingo said. However, the different airlines have been very cooperative in the inquiries being made by Health authorities.

Epidemiologists have also been sent to resorts in Central Philippines where the Chinese national visited. They already have received the manifests from the different airlines the passenger took during her travel last week.

The passengers have been advised to seek medical advice should they feel any of the symptoms identified by health authorities.

The privacy of the resorts and individuals are guaranteed as Undersecretary Domingo refused to give more details of the inquiries being made.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)