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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos orders strict monitoring vs Nipah virus

Marcos orders strict monitoring vs Nipah virus

Published Jan 29, 2026 02:20 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
President Marcos has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify its surveillance against the Nipah virus amid growing concerns over the disease, Malacañang said.
“Patuloy na nakatutok at nagbabantay ang Bureau of Quarantine ng DOH sa Nipah virus na napabalitang na-detect muli sa ibang bansa (The DOH's Bureau of Quarantine maintains close monitoring of Nipah virus which have been reported to be detected again in other countries),” Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday, Jan. 29.
"Ito’y alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na panatilihing ligtas ang mga Pilipino mula sa mga infectious diseases (This is in accordance to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the safety of Filipinos from infectious diseases)," Castro added.
According to the Palace official, the DOH has aligned its health protocols with the latest updates from the World Health Organization (WHO).
She added that the DOH remains fully alert and proactive in conducting screening procedures in the country’s borders through on-arrival thermal scanning, trained observation, and close scrutiny of online health declarations.
The Health department is also ramping up its information campaign on the Nipah virus, raising awareness on its symptoms such as fever, headache, and breathing difficulty.
Health officials said the virus can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals such as bats and pigs and also with contaminated fruits.
The Palace Press Officer also advised the public to monitor DOH health updates to ensure safety.
According to the WHO, Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person.
It causes a range of illnesses in infected people from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
The virus, which has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant livestock losses.

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President Marcos NIPAH VIRUS DOH
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