THE Department of Health (DOH) has brushed aside alleged international health concerns spreading on social media, saying neither the World Health Organization (WHO) nor China has confirmed the purported epidemic.
“Reliable sources currently do not support circulating posts on social media about an alleged international health concern,’ the DOH said in a statement.
“There is no confirmation from either the cited country (China) or the World Health Organization (WHO).” it added.
According to the social media posts, a new epidemic in China is overwhelming hospitals and crematories, with some provinces declaring a state of emergency.
The DOH emphasized that the Philippines is an active participant in the network of WHO-member states that adhere to International Health Regulations (IHR).
The IHR from WHO is an established system that gives reliable updates about international health concerns.
DOH assured the public that Philippine disease surveillance systems are in place and working to verify information regarding the matter. The health agency advised the public to avoid spreading misinformation from umreliable websites which may cause confusions among many people..
“Please do not share questionable websites or online sources. Let us not spread misinformation and confusion,” DOH said.
