Troops in Liberia set to arrive soon after they tested negative for Ebola

From the BusinessWorld (Nov 9): Troops in Liberia set to arrive soon after they tested negative for Ebola

ALL 108 Philippine peace-keepers in Liberia have tested negative for the Ebola virus and will be arriving on Tuesday, authorities said.

“They will be quarantined in a secure location along with the other returning government troops -- the ones from the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology),” Col. Roberto T. Ancan, commanding officer of the Peacekeeping Operations Center, said.

Some 29 PNP personnel and one BJMP officer, apart from the troops committed by the military to the United Nations peace-keeping forces, have also passed the medical tests that have been conducted by the UN.

Troops will be placed in isolation for 21 days in a former American observation facility during World War II located on Caballo Island, one of the five islands that greet vessels upon entering the Manila Bay.

Despite the forced isolation and quarantine, Mr. Ancan said that the returning troops will be allowed to see their families once they arrive but cited that strict health security protocols will be implemented to make sure that nothing will be compromised.

“No handshakes. They also have to maintain a one-meter distance when they are talking to each other,” Mr. Ancan said.

The US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that the deadly virus has already affected at least seven countries including Guinea, Libera, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Spain, Sengal as well as the US.

Ebola has also claimed the lives of at least 4,000 people from the recorded 8,399 cases as of last month, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

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