Monkeys in PH Facilities Test Positive for Ebola Reston Virus
MANILA – About 11 monkeys in undisclosed farms and facilities in the Philippines have tested positive for Ebola Reston virus, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Saturday.
The monkeys infected with the virus were being bred for export.
According to Health Secretary Janette Garin, this Ebola strain is not lethal to humans.
The strain is lethal to animals and can be transmitted to humans, but it will have no effect on humans, Garin said.
“What we have now is Ebola Reston virus. What was in Africa was Ebola Zahir. Ebola Reston is isa sa pinakamabait na Ebola, walang effect sa humans,” Garin said.
The health secretary said all the handlers of the infected monkeys have tested negative for the Ebola Reston variety.
This is the third time that monkeys in the Philippines were infected with the Ebola Reston virus. The first time was in 1989, and the second was in 2008 until 2009.
The DOH said it is investigating if other animals were also infected with the virus. — Report from Primy Cane, ABS-CBN News