The Department of Health (DOH) has dismissed recent social media posts about an alleged “international health concern” as unverified, urging Filipinos to avoid spreading potential misinformation.
“Reliable sources currently 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 (WHO),” the DOH clarified in a statement on Friday.
Although the agency did not directly mention China, several viral posts online alleged that hospitals in the country were overwhelmed by a new epidemic. The DOH emphasized that the Philippines relies on the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR) to confirm any outbreak.
“This established system is what gives reliable updates about international health concerns,” the DOH said, reminding the public to avoid sharing content from questionable sources. “Let us not spread misinformation and confusion.”
The DOH assured Filipinos that its disease surveillance systems remain operational and effective. “The DOH is actively verifying all information and will keep the Filipino public updated,” the agency added.
Nearly five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, the WHO declared the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency in 2023.
