MONKEYPOX | Health department says no monkeypox case in the Philippines, heightens virus lookout

May 20, 2022 , 08:19 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(May 20, 2022) – The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it has been closely monitoring the transmission of the monkeypox virus, following news of sudden, unusual outbreaks of the virus in the United States and Europe.

The department said there is no reported case of the monkeypox virus in the Philippines or in its borders.
“DOH is intensifying screening at our borders and ensuring that surveillance systems are actively monitoring the situation,” the department said in a statement.

Foreign media reports said European countries, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have detected a handful of cases of the virus this week, raising alarm bells for health experts as it previously rarely spreads outside Africa.

Health experts were also puzzled by the transmission as a number of cases in the United Kingdom did not have any close contact with each other, Reuters reported.

Experts have posited that the outbreaks were likely caused by the gradual easing of travel restrictions during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The phaseout of smallpox vaccines, which also helps protect against monkeypox, is also considered a possible factor.

DOH also allayed public concerns on the outbreak, noting the monkeypox virus is generally less contagious than smallpox and causes less severe illness, despite apparent similiarities between the two viruses.

“Minimum public health standards will prevent Monkeypox transmission: wear your best-fitted mask, ensure good airflow, keep hands clean, and keep physical distance. These also protect us against COVID-19,” the department added.

The World Health Organization said the monkeypox, first found in monkeys in 1958, mainly comes from animals in tropical rainforest areas of central and west Africa but is only occassionally exported to other parts of the world.

It causes the typical symptoms of infections such as fever and swollen lymph nodes, but it also causes distinctly bumpy rashes.

Experts are still studying if the new cases were caused by new means of transmission or genetic mutations in the virus.

(MM)

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