DOH: Claims of respiratory diseases in China, unfounded
THE Department of Health (DOH) released a public advisory that debunks the alleged international concern about the surging respiratory diseases in China.
Recently, posts have circulated alleging a surge in respiratory illnesses in China. They claimed that the country has been placed under a state of emergency.
Post from The Fraternal Order of Eagles – Philippine Eagles’ Facebook Page
Some of these trending posts also warned the netizens about a new virus that is beginning to brew in China.
The post that circulates on Facebook
But DOH urged the public not to believe these posts. In their advisory, they said that reliable sources, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and China itself, have no confirmation about the health concern.
“Reliable sources do not support circulating posts on social media about an alleged international health concern. There is no confirmation from either the cited country or the World Health Organization,” they announced.
DOH also emphasized in their post the proper communication channels about global health concerns.
“The Philippines through the Department of Health is an active participant in the network WHO Member States that follow the International Health Regulations (IHR). This established system is what gives reliable updates about international health concerns.”
DOH assures the public that the Philippine disease surveillance systems are in place and working. This is a system that monitors the statistics of diseases in the country. DOH provides weekly reports that can be accessed by the public through their website.
They also said that they are actively verifying information and urged the public not to spread misinformation.
“The DOH is actively verifying all information, and will keep the Filipino public updated. Please do not share questionable websites or online sources. Let us not spread misinformation and confusion.”
Fear of a Repeat of COVID-19 Era Lapses
DOH issued this reminder to address growing concerns among Filipino netizens, who fear a potential repeat of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Despite the DOH’s reassurance, the Filipino public remains skeptical. Some netizens expressed their concern that this might be a repeat of the government’s denial of emerging health threats, with responses coming too late.
Screenshots of comments under DOH’s Facebook advisory post
During the early days of COVID-19, Malacañang, led by former President Rodrigo Duterte, came under fire for not immediately restricting Chinese nationals from entering the country. This included travelers from Wuhan, China, the virus’s epicenter.
This was amidst the public’s growing concern about the spread of COVID-19. Many people criticized this policy as prioritizing diplomatic relations over public welfare, sparking widespread concern and debate.
COVID-19 is an RNA virus that causes respiratory disease. It was first reported by China to WHO on the last day of 2019. It caused widespread health emergencies in the country, particularly in Wuhan of Hubei province where it was first detected.
In January 2020, it found its way outside of the Chinese border, causing global concerns including for the Philippines.
But even before WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), there were already calls on the Duterte administration to impose a travel ban on China.
The administration only imposed it on January 31, a day after the first COVID-19 patient in the Philippines was recorded. ‘Patient 1’ was a Chinese female tourist that came from Wuhan, China.
As of 2025, the Philippines continues to recover from the pandemic, with the tourism industry slowly recovering with an increasing number of foreign visitors in the country.
