Manila tightens airport screening after unknown disease outbreak in Cambodia

Saturday July 7, 2012

Published: Saturday July 7, 2012 MYT 3:53:00 PM
Manila tightens airport screening after unknown disease outbreak in Cambodia

MANILA: The Philippine government has implemented a stricter procedure in screening passengers at the country's international airports following an outbreak of a fatal respiratory syndrome affecting children in Cambodia.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an interview with a local radio that the Department of Health is currently monitoring the situation through its National Epidemiology Centre.

"That respiratory disease is now being looked into," Xinhua news agency quoted Lacierda.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona has ordered the Quarantine Bureau to be more vigilant in carrying out routine screening procedures at all international airports.

Meanwhile, Cambodia's Ministry of Health's investigation into the mysterious disease that killed 61 children in the country has failed to identify its cause, Xinhua news agency reported.

Tests revealed samples were found to be negative for H5N1 and other influenza viruses, SARS and Nipah, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

A total of 57 cases including 56 deaths showed common syndrome of fever and respiratory and neurological problems, which now are the focus of the investigation.

Seventy-four cases of the disease have been identified from April to July 5 this year with most patients under three years old.

The Cambodian Health Ministry was first alerted of the outbreak by Kantha Bopha Children's hospital in Phnom Penh where the majority of patients were hospitalised.

WHO is assisting the ministry with a focus on hospitalised cases, early warning surveillance data, laboratory data and field investigations. - Bernama