Typhoon Paeng has slightly weakened after leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) before noon yesterday. It continues to move farther away from the country and according to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz, it is not expected to make landfall but will only cross the eastern seaboard of Japan.

An area of converging winds from the northern and southern hemisphere known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over Northern Mindanao, CARAGA, Central Visayas and Leyte province.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan will continue to affect Northern Luzon. This wind system, characterized by cold and dry air coming from the mainland China, will bring partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region.

PAGASA has retained the gale warning over the eastern seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are prohibited from any sea travel over the seaboads of Isabela, eastern coast of Cagayan and Aurora.

Loiz said there are no weather disturbances expected to enter PAR within the next three days. However, all are still advised to monitor updates from the weather bureau.

Three consecutive earthquakes strike Bohol

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded a magnitude 4 earthquake yesterday at around 9:52 PM. It was 7 kilometers deep and its epicenter was located at 1 kilometer southwest of Catigbian, Bohol.

From the initial magnitude, the following areas felt the following intensities:

Intensity V – Catigbian, Bohol
Intensity IV – Tagbilaran City; Antiquerra, Corella, Baclayon, Cortes, Balilihan, Loboc & Jagna, Bohol
Intensity III – Alburquerque, Sikatuna, Maribojoc, Loon & Talibon, Bohol
Intensity II – Dauis, Bohol; Cebu City

After a few minutes, a magnitude 2.5 quake was recorded at 9:57 PM. Its depth of focus reached 19 kilometers with its epicenter at 6 kilometers southeast of San Isidro, Bohol where intensity II was felt. Intensity 1 was recorded in Lila, Bohol.

At 10:52 PM, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake followed with a depth of 18 kilometers and its epicenter located at 1 kilometer southeast of Catigbian, Bohol. Intensity II was felt in Tagbilaran City.

Based on the earthquake bulletin of PHIVOLCS, no damage was recorded from the consecutive earthquakes. People are advised to be alert, not only with weather changes, but also with the unpredictable ground shaking.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continues to monitor Typhoon “Paeng” which was last spotted at 1,338 kilometers east of Basco in Batanes, packing winds of 195 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 230 kilometers per hour.

Moving northeast at 15 kilometers per hour, Paeng is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) before noon today. However, it could still change depending on the typhoon’s velocity.

As Paeng traverses Philippine waters, it will still enhance the northeast monsoon or amihan. Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region will experience partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains. Sea travel over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas is risky for fishing boats and other small seacraft.

Meanwhile, the convergence of winds and the trough or extended cloud bands of Paeng will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over Central Visayas and Mindanao. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza said rainy weather over Mindanao could be an indirect effect of the typhoon.

Rainfall Advisory

At 8:01 AM today, PAGASA has issued a rainfall advisory in some parts of Luzon. Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are being experienced in Laguna, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, portions of Quezon City, parts of Cavite including Carmona, Dasmariñas, Bacoor, and Imus. This rainfall advisory is also up over Orion and Limay, Bataan and some parts of Quezon, Rizal, Batangas and Bulacan. Rains will continue within the next 2 to 3 hours. ‪‎

Pampanga and other areas of Metro Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, Quezon, Rizal and Cavite will also experience these rains within the next two hours.

Special Non-working day in Quezon Province

By virtue of Proclamation No. 892, today is a special non-working day in the province of Quezon. This is to give the people of Quezon the opportunity to remember the valour of Hermano Pule, the great man of Lucban, Quezon. Pule was a revolutionary hero known for his perseverance and bravery to fight for religious freedom.

According to the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ebola is a rare and fatal disease caused by infection with a strain of Ebola virus. The fact that the 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history should be enough motivation for everyone to know the basics of the disease.

Ebola explained
Ebola has become a topic of conversation these past few months due to the alarming cases reported all over the globe, especially in numerous West African countries. Various scientists, as well as international and local health organizations, have been doing their best to raise public awareness to help prevent the spread of this malignant disease.

Historically, the first case of Ebola was recorded in 1976, when a young Belgian scientist named Peter Piot travelled to a remote area in Congo to find out the cause of death from an unidentified disease.

The virus was primarily discovered in the Yambuku village but since naming the virus after the village may be deemed as offensive, Piot’s team decided to name it after the nearest river. According to Live Science, one option was the Congo River. However, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus was already in existence.

With the help of a small map, they plotted out the nearest river from Yambuku and that was the Ebola River. Ebola River means “Black River” in Lingala, the language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Symptoms and Transmission

The Ebola Virus Disease or EVD is one of the most virulent viral diseases affecting humankind. It is a viral haemorrhagic fever with symptoms of fever, headache, intense weakness, joint and muscle pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, impaired kidney and liver functions, and internal and external bleeding. Rash, red eyes, hiccups and bleeding from body openings could occur in some instances.

The Department of Health (DOH) clarified that Ebola cannot be spread through air, water or food. The disease can be transmitted only through direct contact with the body of a deceased person; blood secretions, organ or other bodily fluids of infected animals; and body fluids and stools of an infected person via blood, vomit, pee, poop, sweat, semen or spit. One can also get the virus by using contaminated needles and soiled linen used by infected patients.

Healthcare and laboratory workers who are exposed to secretions and specimens from the patient and family members, or those who are in close contact with the infected individuals, are prone to the virus.

EVD knows no boundaries

Because of the EVD outbreak in West Africa, an area known for its hot and dry climate, some have speculated that it may be a weather-related disease. But according to Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy of the Department of Health-National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (DOH-NCDPC), there is no scientific proof that weather affects the spreading of the Ebola virus. He added that as of now, there are no studies yet on how cold or warm weather stimulates the virus.

According to the CDC, countries with widespread transmission include Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone while those with localized transmission are Madrid, Spain; Dallas, Texas and New York City, New York in United States. Mali in West Africa was affected with travel-associated cases.

Meanwhile, Nigeria and Dakar, Senegal were already declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Based on WHO’s report, more than 10,000 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of EVD have been reported in Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Spain and United States of America. Out of this number, nearly 5,000 patients have been reported dead.

Table: Chronology of previous Ebola virus disease outbreaks

Actions taken in the PH

In a press release of DOH dated on October 17, 2014, the department stated that it will conduct specialized training programs to raise awareness and response to EVD. With the help of WHO, the programs aim to deepen the understanding of health workers on the detection and treatment of EVD cases and to stop the infectious disease from spreading.

The training programs started on October 28 when Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy led the “Training on Hospital Management of Ebola Virus Disease” held at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Sources:
Department of Health
World Health Organization
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Live Science
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28262541