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Israel-Hamas war could trigger 'outbreaks, epidemics'--Garin

Philippines | National

Israel-Hamas war could trigger 'outbreaks, epidemics'--Garin

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

Iloilo 1st district Congresswoman and former Department of Health (DOH) secretary Janette Garin is worried over the possible spread of "outbreaks and epidemics" as a result of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Iloilo 1st district Congresswoman and former Department of Health (DOH) secretary Janette Garin is worried over the possible spread of "outbreaks and epidemics" as a result of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"With wars like this, even if far from our country, outbreaks and epidemics are expected to spread globally," Garin said in a statement Monday, Oct. 9.

"Remember the war in Syria and Lebanon and conflict in Pakistan, measles and polio spread to the Philippines," noted the lady solon, who served as health chief under the administration of the late former president Benigno S. Aquino III.

"Outbreaks of norovirus and rotavirus also happened leading to outbreaks of diarrhea," she added.

"Interruption of clean water, hygiene, congestion creates a Petri dish for various outbreaks can spread globally. Our main defense is to have herd immunity via a high vaccination coverage," Garin explained.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) earlier stated that it is "closely monitoring" the situation of 24,807 Filipinos in Israel.

Last Saturday, Hamas rebels launched thousands of rockets into Israel from Gaza Strip.

Related Tags

Janette Garin epidemic Israel outbreaks HAMAS

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