Health workers prepared vs Ebola virus - Palace

MANILA, Philippines -  Malacañang on Saturday said health officials are trained to handle any case of the Ebola virus should the outbreak reaches the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a Filipino worker in Togo is being tested for the virus.

A report from the Philippine News Agency cited Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte as saying that the Department of Health screens people who manifest symptoms and also those who traveled to countries with cases of Ebola infections.

She said the screening process is a measure being carried out as additional precaution.

The World Health Organization has barred people from countries with reported Ebola infections from travelling overseas.

"Nasasalo na po sila doon sa point of departure at may extra stringent measures naman po tayo dito pagdating po dito sa ating bansa," valte said.

"Katulad nang 15 na katao na umuwi noong nakaraang buwan na galing sa mga lugar na merong Ebola, negative naman silang lahat ayon sa naging resulta after the 30-day monitoring period."

Ebola causes viral hemorrhagic fever that affects multiple organ systems in the body. It has no known cure and the virus has a more than 50-percent death rate.