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 11th.
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.
“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,’’ Cabunoc added.
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.