MANILA - Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte on Thursday called for a heightened community-based public awareness campaign about monkeypox, as well as related prevention and protective measures. Duterte said the Department of Health (DOH) should team up with the local government units (LGUs) and civic organizations to educate the public about monkeypox to prevent its spread, adding that the information drive should cascade down to the community level. "Educating our countrymen at this stage will help the DOH in its public surveillance and prevention efforts. It will also clear up misconceptions about monkeypox that could lead people to become lax in following health protocols," Duterte said. Duterte said among the misconceptions that need to be clarified include reports that monkeypox is only sexually transmitted when in fact the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have confirmed that the virus can be passed on through close contac
(File photo) MANILA - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday urged local government units (LGUs) to undertake proactive measures to help prevent monkeypox transmission and spread in their respective areas of jurisdictions. This came after the country reported its first confirmed case of monkeypox last week. "While everyone is assured that our public health surveillance systems are able to detect and confirm monkeypox cases, all LGUs are nonetheless called to carry out measures in close coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) in stemming the spread of this new virus," said DILG Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos, Jr. in a news release. Abalos said that while the country's health authorities are already strictly monitoring inbound and outbound travelers for monkeypox cases, it would be in the best interest of the LGUs to be prepared for any eventualities. "The adage prevention is better than cure still applies today. A
(File photo) MANILA - The entry of the rare monkeypox virus in the country is possible through travelers carrying the infection, an infectious disease expert said Monday. In a televised public briefing, Vaccine Experts Panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante said monkeypox, endemic in parts of Central and West Africa, has been detected in countries with "high-tech healthcare facilities". "With travel, you know now the possibility of one infection, a person carrying the infection can also travel a lot and can also enter a country that's where the vulnerability of most population, when one has the infection incubating and then arriving in the Philippines and develop the symptoms upon arrival or after the arrival," he said. According to the World Health Organization, the disease has recently emerged in 12 countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The WHO
VIRUS. Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection of the monkeypox virus and usually occurs throughout Central and West Africa, often near tropical rain forests. As of May 20, 2022, the World Health Organization confirmed 80 cases across 11 countries. (Photo courtesy of UN) MANILA - President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday expressed hope that the monkeypox outbreak being reported mostly in Europe would not be as fatal as coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). In a prerecorded Talk to the People, Duterte requested Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Abdullah Dumama to explain how dangerous monkeypox is. Dumama said the mortality rate of the rare viral disease is only about one percent. "Mayroon din pong fatality ito, fatality rate na at least 1 point - ah 1 percent lamang po. Hindi naman ho ito gaanong ganoon ka-virulent at hindi ito nagbibigay ng malalang sakit, mahal na Pangulo (This has a fatality rate of at least 1 percent. It is not that virulent and cannot cause se
VIRUS. Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection of the monkeypox virus and usually occurs throughout Central and West Africa, often near tropical rain forests. As of May 20, 2022, the World Health Organization confirmed 80 cases across 11 countries. (Photo courtesy of UN) MANILA - The Philippines continues to monitor the outbreak of monkeypox overseas but the closure of borders is still unlikely, the special adviser against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) said Saturday. In a "Laging Handa" briefing, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19's Dr. Ted Herbosa said monkeypox is an old disease that is not airborne and as infectious as Covid-19. "We will monitor and prepare for it but the same minimum public health measures to prevent it would apply," he said in Filipino. "Ako (I), as an advisor, will not recommend closing our borders just because there are 85 reported cases of monkeypox." Herbosa, an infectious diseases expert, said monkey