THE Department of Health (DOH) has assessed the risk of a plague outbreak in the Philippines as very low, as Russian authorities continue to investigate the death of a plague laboratory worker in Irkutsk, Russia.
In a statement sent to The Manila Times Thursday night, the DOH said the worker died of pneumonia, but the specific cause remained under investigation.
“Russian authorities have said that it has not been confirmed as plague,” the department said.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) initial assessment placed the risk as low for Russia as a whole and very low for the WHO European Region, it said.
The Bureau of Quarantine has been implementing health screening at Philippine airports, the department said. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine can test for plague if needed, while designated hospitals can isolate and treat suspected cases.
“No special precautions are needed at this time,” the DOH said.
It nevertheless advised the public to continue frequent handwashing and cover coughs and sneezes.
The department said it would continue monitoring the situation and issue updates as they become available.