Maintaining hand hygiene and physical distance from people can protect you not only from Covid-19 but also from other infectious diseases.
Consistent adherence to minimum public health standards (MPHS) can also protect the public from diseases such as monkeypox, which was recently declared by the World Health Organization a global health emergency because of the worldwide upsurge in cases.
Department of Health-Cordillera infectious diseases cluster head Dr. Jennifer Joyce Pira said the agency’s current thrust is sustaining the gains in the Covid-19 response such as continuing on the campaign for the public to follow the MPHS.
Aside from the campaign to continue following MPHS, the DOH is also focusing on disease surveillance for early detection of cases and identification of close contacts of those who got infected.
In a recent public briefing, DOH-CAR Director Rio Magpantay has asked the public to immediately report to health authorities if they notice that they have symptoms of monkeypox.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans and from humans to humans.
Transmission can be through blood, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and lesions from infected animals.
Magpantay said getting infected of monkeypox is not fatal but there is also no treatment for it except for medications to manage the symptoms.
Symptoms of the disease are similar with Covid-19 and to determine the exact disease, a patient would have to undergo a PCR test.
At present, only the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine Special Pathogens Laboratory is capable of detecting the monkeypox virus.
In stopping the spread of monkeypox, the DOH will implement the same protocol with Covid-19.
Magpantay said suspect patients will also be required to undergo isolation for about two to four weeks.
He also discouraged the public from eating raw meat especially of exotic animals.
Magpantay said if there are those who insist on eating exotic animals, they have to make sure that these are properly cooked.
The Baguio General Hospital has devoted two negative pressure rooms at its Infectious Diseases Building to cater to those suspected and found positive of monkeypox.
The Philippines has reported its first monkeypox case last July 29, a 31-year-old Filipino who returned from abroad where monkeypox cases have been reported.
The first case had reportedly 10 close contacts. None have been observed to have the symptoms.
Recently, the DOH declared the first case recovered after undergoing isolation. – Rimaliza A. Opina
