Guingona calls for correct reporting on ebola virus
HEALTH • 17:04 PM Thu Oct 30, 2014
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By:
Edwin Fernandez
(senate.gov.ph)
COTABATO CITY –
Senator Teofisto ‘TG’ Guingona on Wednesday urged Philippine media to avoid being ‘alarmists’
in reporting about the dreaded ebola virus.
Guingona, chair
of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee at ng Peace, Unification and Reconciliation,
Health and Demography and the Oversight Committee on Anti-Money Laundering, said
reporting the spread of ebola virus without proper background and information could
lead to panic.
Guingona told
DXMS Radyo Bida Wednesday afternoon that about 90 percent of public panic was
triggered by alarming media reports.
He said giving
correct and appropriate information about the virus will educate the people and
prevent panic that may lead to something harmful.
Reporting
ebola incorrectly would lead to mass hysteria, Guingona said.The
Philippines, he said, is prepared to address should a case of ebola virus
reaches the country.
Dr. Kadil
Sinolinding Jr, regional health secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM), earlier told reporters the importance of correct information which
will help educate the public how to deal with the highly infectious disease.