President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of Health (DOH) to tighten controls at the country’s borders following reports of Nipah virus (NiV) cases detected abroad.
The directive focuses on intensified screening at all international ports of entry to prevent the zoonotic virus from entering the Philippines. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed Thursday that the President’s primary concern is proactive containment at the gates.
“The Bureau of Quarantine is continuously monitoring and on guard against the Nipah virus,” Castro said. “This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the protection of Filipinos.”
Under the new protocols, the DOH has re-activated comprehensive thermal scanning for all arriving passengers. Quarantine officers have also been instructed to conduct more stringent reviews of health declaration forms and to monitor travelers arriving from countries with reported outbreaks, such as India.
The Nipah virus, which can be transmitted from animals to humans and through contaminated food, carries a high fatality rate of 40% to 75%. Symptoms include fever, respiratory distress, and in severe cases, brain swelling.
Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo noted that while the threat is being taken seriously at the borders, the Philippines has successfully managed the virus before, specifically during a limited outbreak in Sultan Kudarat in 2014.
“Our frontliners at the airports and seaports are the first line of defense,” Domingo said. “We are ensuring that any individual showing symptoms is immediately isolated and tested.”
Authorities are also advising the public to maintain hygiene standards and ensure all meat products are thoroughly cooked, while the government maintains its “high alert” status for all incoming international flights and vessels.