The fear of the dreaded disease is gripping the city of 200,000 population after the OFWs apparently failed to undergo Ebola quarantine protocol.
The workers checked in at James Gordon Memorial Hospital last Friday, but were denied admission and told to go to Manila for observation.
Dr. Jewel Manuel, the hospital administrator, said the OFWs are residents of Castillejos, Zambales who had arrived from Sierra Leone, one of three worst-hit countries in the region.
As of Dec. 10, the World Health Organizatin (WHO) reported that the Ebola toll has reached 6,583 in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Manuel said they were forced to refuse the workers admission due to lack of facilities.
Reached for comment, Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino said he made the call to refuse quarantine of the two OFWs because of the danger it poses to the hospital staff and patients.
“I don’t mind if they get angry at me for refusing them. I would rather think about the safety of my city and my constituents,” Paulino stressed.
Calls to the 24/7 Ebola Virus Disease hotlines of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine were not answered.
Meanwhile, acting Health Secretary Janet Garin said the two OFWs are not suspected of having Ebola.
“Di po sila suspected case ng Ebola. They are on quarantine in JBL po,” said Garin may be referring to the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga. [via Source]
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