DOH Released Statement on Flesh-Eating Disease in Pangasinan (Transcript)

The Department of Health released their official statement with the viral news about the flesh-eating disease that hits the Province of Pangasinan as reported by Bandila on Monday, February 24, 2014.

According to Health Secretary Enrique Ona, he urged the public not to panic over the supposed “flesh-eating” skin disease in Pangasinan as DOH explained that the viral news is a hoaxed.

DOH Secretary Enrique Ona was quoted as saying “There is no reported case of ‘flesh-eating’ skin disease in the country yet. Absolutely no reason for the public to panic,” the DOH said in an official statement posted on country’s official Gazette and the DOH’s Facebook account.

The controversial report of Bandila spread like wildfire online with various netizens expressing their fear and concerns to the victims of the flesh-eating disease. The victims interviewed by Bandila reporter were residents of the towns of Villasis and Santa Barbara in Pangasinan. 

The video report posted by ABS-CBN caused panic online with thousands of Filipinos searching for more information about the disease which was also linked to a previous prophecy made by Indian visionary Prophet Sadhu, who claimed that he predicted the tsunami in Japan and the super typhoon Yolanda that hits the Visayas last November, 2013. 

Here’s the Official Press Release of DOH:

From the Department of Health

DOH: Alleged flesh-eating disease in Pangasinan explained

The Department of Health today belied rumors about a “flesh-eating” skin disease, following reports of two alleged suspected cases in Pangasinan.

“There is no reported case of ‘flesh-eating’ skin disease in the country yet. Absolutely no reason for the public to panic,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona clarified, as he allayed fears that may have been caused by the reports.

Health officials reported that “Case (1)” refers to a woman, 21 years old, from Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, who is on multi-drug therapy for leprosy at a regional health unit. Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, Regional Director (Region I), added that the said patient, who was initially treated in another private health facility, has now completed the treatment but may still need debridement for her skin lesions. The patient is now being (–foul word(s) removed–)sed on current drug reaction and for work-up for tuberculosis.

The provincial health officer also checked on the second case reported, “Case (2),” from Villasis, Pangasinan. Clinical examination confirmed that the patient has a case of severe psoriasis, a chronic skin disease characterized by red patches covered with white scales.

“There are a lot of diseases that may manifest through changes in the skin. It is good to consult our doctors or go to the nearest barangay health unit when we need medical advice and treatment. Let us avail of the free healthcare service in our health facilities,” the Health Chief reminded the public.

[Ed: The original title of this entry was “Flesh-eating skin disease in Pangasinan a hoax.” The Department of Heath subsequently revised it.]

Source: Official Gazette

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