Getting the information ahead of time is important to be prepared for health cases that could become an outbreak.
The Department of Health (DOH) has reported confirmed Mpox or Monkeypox cases in different areas of the Philippines, stating that from August 19 to 28, 2024 there were five confirmed cases. And from July 2022 to December 2023, there were nine confirmed Mpox cases.
The DOH Southern Leyte and the chief nurse of the Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital conveyed that there has been no reported Mpox case in the province. Further detailed information cannot be said because they have not yet been oriented about the monkeypox disease.
In Eastern Visayas, only one was so far reported. The health authorities in Northern Samar revealed that they are monitoring a 24-year-old man in Catarman town, who is suspected of having monkeypox. Its municipal and provincial offices said that the patient’s symptoms were a two-week fever, body weakness, and rashes on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, palms and soles, which are symptoms of monkeypox. The mpox suspected patient has no travel history, the Catarman municipal health officer said. However, the DOH received information that the patient has intimate contact three weeks before the symptoms manifested.
The DOH also said that all previous mpox patients have recovered.
The health agency said that common symptoms of mpox include skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
Mpox can be transmitted to humans through close or intimate contact with someone who is infectious, contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or infected animals, according to DOH.
“Soap and water can kill the virus.
When washing contaminated materials, use gloves,” the DOH reminded the public. Infected patients are treated with supportive care, and if they have no other illnesses, may stay at home until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms; alcohol-based sanitizers will help. And, DOH will make the testing process as convenient as possible, so that suspect cases may be identified fast and allowed to stay at home,” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said that the mpox outbreak is not another Covid-19 because much is already known about the virus and the means to control it.
“Monkeypox is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a zoonotic viral infection that can spread from animals to humans. It can also spread from person to person. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on 23 July 2022 that the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). A vaccine was recently approved for preventing monkeypox.
“The first case of monkeypox in the country was detected in a 31-year-old Filipino national who arrived from abroad last 19 July 2022. The patient had previous travel to several European countries with documented monkeypox cases. It is rapidly spreading worldwide, and as of 22 December 2022, there have been 83,424 confirmed cases and 72 deaths worldwide.” (Gmr, AVista)
Monkeypox needs attention
