Philippines to quarantine 112 peacekeepers returning from Liberia

No fewer than 100 soldiers returning to the Philippines from a peacekeeping mission in Liberia will be quarantined on a secluded island, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Lt.-Col Harold Cabunoc disclosed to newsmen in Manila.

According to him, the 112-member peacekeeping contingent is due to arrive in Manila on November 11.

The military initially planned to quarantine them at a military facility in the northern province of Tarlac, but local officials opposed the plan, expressing concern about the safety of the residents.

Cabunoc said, “The chief of staff has decided to put the peacekeeping forces in a secluded place.

“That is an island paradise, but I could not disclose the exact location as of now.

“The soldiers will stay on the island for 21 days as required by the Department of Health.”

According to the most recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Philippines recalled the soldiers amid the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, where 6,535 people have been infected by the virus, killing 2,413 of them.

“In all eight affected countries, 13,567 people have been infected since the start of the outbreak last year with 4,951 deaths reported mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea,’’ the WHO said.

Source: Punchng