DoH says plague risk remains low

The Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday said the risk of plague reaching the Philippines remained very low following the reported death of a laboratory technician in Russia from the disease.

“The DoH assesses the risk to the Philippines as very low,” the department said. It said no special precautions were necessary at this time, adding that routine hygiene practices remained effective in protecting against common illnesses.”

“The same everyday habits that protect against common illnesses, such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, remain effective,” it said.

The assessment followed reports from Russian authorities that Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia, died of the plague on 2 October.

The World Health Organization’s initial assessment placed the risk as low for Russia as a whole and very low for the WHO European Region.

Still, the DoH said it would continue monitoring the situation and provide verified updates as they became available. The Bureau of Quarantine is conducting health screening at Philippine airports, the DoH said.

If necessary, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine can test for plague, while designated hospitals can isolate and treat suspected cases, it added.