MONKEYPOX | Philippines reports first case of monkeypox from a local traveler

July 29, 2022 , 06:17 PM

By Mikee Garcia

(July 29, 2022) – The Philippines on Friday reported its first case of monkeypox virus after it was detected from a returning Filipino traveler, a senior official at the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Acting health secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the first monkeypox case in the country was detected from a 31-year old Filipino who arrived from abroad last July 19 after traveling to countries with documented cases of monkeypox.

The infected traveler was sent home and ordered to undergo isolation and monitoring.

His case was confirmed on July 28 at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) through reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Ten close contacts have been found, including three who are from the same household.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern, temporarily recommending a coordinated international response.

The monkeypox virus is endemic in central and western Africa where it was first detected in 1950 but the first human case was found in Congo in the 1970s. In May, the WHO was puzzled when the virus spread in countries outside Africa and with people who have not gone to Africa, infecting more than 15,000 in Europe, the United States and 70 countries, including Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

“Monkeypox is caused by a different microorganism that is different from COVID-19,” Vergeire said in a statement.

“Investigation of recent Monkeypox cases in non-endemic countries indicates potential transmission through sexual contact. It spreads mostly by intimate sexual contact with those who have rashes or open lesions. It is not like COVID-19 that spreads mostly through the air. Monkeypox symptoms are mild, and the disease is rarely fatal.”

The acting DOH secretary also advised to minimize close sexual contact with suspected cases, especially those with rashes or open wounds and to continue practicing the minimum public health protocols of washing hands, wearing a face mask, covering coughs using the elbow, and choosing areas with good airflow.

“If you have a travel history to countries with monkeypox, and then have symptoms like fever, lymphadenopathy or “kulani”, and rashes, seek immediate medical attention. This will help hasten recovery,” said Vergeire.

While the DOH has been on top of the situation, Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the Marcos administration to double the country’s surveillance capacity for monkeypox.

“Nananawagan ako sa administrasyon na doblehin ang surveillance capacity ng Department of Health (DOH), ngayong na-confirm na ang monkeypox sa loob ng bansa,” the opposition senator said in a statement.

“Kahit na wala pang naitalagang health secretary, dapat ay patuloy na palakasin at pagtibayin ang kakayahan ng ating health system na magbantay at mag-screen ng mga suspected cases ng monkeypox.”

(MM)

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