19 November 2014 - Dr. Luo Dapeng, Team Leader of the Emerging disease Surveillance and Response Unit of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Laos, briefed members of the Filipino community in Laos on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) during the Filipino community meeting organized by the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane on October 23 at the Embassy premises.

Dr. Dapeng informed the attendees that the Ebola Virus is not a new disease; that in fact, there were cases of Ebola in the 1970s in Central African countries. He said that the recent outbreak of the disease has caused more than 4,555 deaths as of October 14.

Dr. Dapeng also talked about the characteristics of the Ebola virus: how it is transmitted and the symptoms that a person affected with the virus exhibits. He also discussed the measures which the WHO and the Lao government are undertaking in order to prevent the entry or spread of Ebola in the country. Dr. Dapeng said that Lao hospital staff and officials are being trained to upgrade their knowledge and capacity on the disease. He also mentioned that an isolation ward and laboratory testing rooms have been set up in Mittaphab hospital, which has been designated as the receiving hospital for EVD victims.

The briefing was followed by an open forum. Questions on how to avoid the EVD, how to treat someone with EVD, as well as the mortality rate of the disease, were raised by Filipino community members. One member also asked regarding the extent of the preparedness of Lao hospitals to accommodate EVD victims. Dr. Dapeng assured the attendees that the Lao Ministry of Public Health is closely coordinating with WHO to ensure the Ebola-preparedness of the country.

Philippine Ambassador Isleta thanked Dr. Luo Dapeng for sharing his knowledge and expertise on Ebola. She also thanked the Filipino community in Laos for attending the meeting and encouraged them to submit any additional questions they might have on Ebola and to take the necessary precautions.END