RP troops contract malaria in E. Timor<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): At least 25 Philippine soldiers who served with
\nthe UN peacekeeping force in East Timor returned home last month
\ninfected with a new strain of malaria, military officials said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
The 25 were among nearly 100 soldiers who returned to the
\nPhilippines in June from East Timor where they were part of the
\n500-plus member Filipino force under UN command.<\/p>\n
The malaria strain is found only in East Timor and it was not
\nclear whether the Philippines has an antidote for it, military
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
Military doctors discovered the strain during three days of
\nmandatory testing for the returning soldiers.<\/p>\n
It was not clear why the soldiers were not quarantined and
\nallowed to return their families, where they run the risk of
\nspreading the disease, officials said.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we have already ordered the recall of these
\nsoldiers for treatment and we have already coordinated with the
\ndepartment of health on the matter,\" an official said.<\/p>\n
Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, who has been informed of
\nthe situation, said the navy's infectious disease unit has been
\nasked to look into the problem.<\/p>\n
\"This is a matter of public health. I don't think there's
\nreason to be alarmed, but maybe the department of health doctors
\ncould better diagnose the disease,\" Mercado said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-troops-contract-malaria-in-e-timor-1447893297",
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