Last batch of PH peacekeepers from Liberia now home

MANILA, Philippines – The last batch of 4 Filipino peacekeepers from Liberia arrived in the country on Saturday, November 22, the military said.

The 4 were allowed to take a commercial plane after testing negative for Ebola.

“They traveled through commercial plane as they were cleared to travel after passing the Ebola Screening Test and for being declared as ‘No Risk’ personnel. The DOH can discuss further details about their quarantine procedures and duration,” according to military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc.

They are also undergoing a 3-week quarantine. They were sent to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center located in Quezon City and not in Caballo Island located at the mouth of Manila Bay.

“The decision to let them undergo the quarantine at AFPMC is based on the guidance from DOH,” Cabunoc added. (READ: Quarantine for Liberia troops: We’re playing safe – DOH)

The health department initially announced that all Filipino peacekeepers from Liberia will be quarantined in Caballo Island. (READ: Filipino peacekeepers from Ebola-hit Liberia arrive in PH)

Based on guidelines issued by the the World Health Organization (WHO), a person who tests positive for Ebola is only contagious when he develops symptoms. The international health organization also does not recommend quarantine of people coming from affected countries if they test negative for ebola.

All the 137 Filipino peacekeepers who came from Liberia tested negative for Ebola.

The Ebola virus, which can be transmitted through bodily fluids, causes severe fever, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea. In some cases, it also causes organ failure, unstoppable bleeding, and can kill victims in just days. (READ: 5 misconceptions about Ebola)

WHO said on Friday, November 21, that the 2014 Ebola outbreak has already killed 5,459 people from 15,351 cases, mostly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. – Rappler.com