DOH: Pinoy Peacekeeper Negative for Ebola, Positive for Malaria

November 15, 2014 3:11pm

(Updated 3:48 p.m.) The Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday that the Filipino peacekeeper who experienced fever and chills earlier Friday tested negative for the Ebola virus, but was instead infected by malaria.

DOH Acting Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin in a statement on Saturday confirmed the new development.

“Negatibo po ang Ebola test sa ating pasyente. Subalit, ikinalulungkot malaman na positibo siya sa malaria,” Garin said.

“May nakita pong Plasmodium falciparum sa kanyang dugo. Sinimulan na po ang combination treatment sa ating pasyente. Mabuti at maaga po itong naagapan kung saan wala pang komplikasyon,” she added.

Meanwhile, a report from GMA’s “News TV Live” program on Saturday said the peacekeeper tested negative for two confirmatory tests.

The peacekeeper was earlier brought to the DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) facility in Alabang after experiencing a fever and chills.

The report added that he will be treated there for three to five days and will be sent back to Caballo Island once he has recovered from malaria.

The other peacekeepers are currently under a 21-day quarantine period in Caballo Island as a safety precaution against the Ebola virus.

The DOH said there will be at least six more peacekeepers who will be arriving from Liberia later on who will undergo the same quarantine procedure.

It also announced that they will be implementing a mandatory 21-day quarantine period for Overseas Filipino workers who will come from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and New Guinea. —

(Source: Andrei Medina/VC, GMA News)