Manila: The Philippines has logged zero cases of Ebola to date due to intensified border screening, health surveillance, and monitoring protocols implemented across all airports and seaports by the Department of Health - Bureau of Quarantine (DOH-BOQ).

According to Philippines News Agency, in a public advisory on Friday, the DOH noted that the entry preventive measures come as the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to monitor the Ebola situation abroad. WHO data, as of June 4, show 381 confirmed cases recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and 15 confirmed cases in Uganda. The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern over the spread of Ebola in the DRC and Uganda on May 17.

To sustain the country's Ebola-free status, the DOH-BOQ strictly enforces a five-step health safety protocol for incoming travelers, including a health declaration form, red QR code issuance, arrival screening, monitoring, and mandatory quarantine. Before traveling back to the Philippines, passengers are required to fill out a health declaration form via etravel.gov.ph to ensure their health status. All passengers traveling from outbreak-affected areas within the past 21 days will be issued a red QR code.

Travelers holding a red QR code will be escorted directly to the BOQ for secondary health surveillance and screening. If they exhibit no symptoms, they will be allowed to return home, where their respective local government units will conduct daily symptom monitoring for up to 21 days. However, travelers with symptoms will be immediately transferred to an isolation facility for a 21-day mandatory quarantine.

The DOH continued to urge the public to understand and follow the official BOQ guidelines. Individuals experiencing potential symptoms are advised to immediately call the DOH Hotline at 1555 (press 2).