DOH Speaks on 2 New Cases of Monkeypox
DOH – The Department of Health confirmed two (2) new cases of monkeypox disease in the Philippines amid the global health emergency.
A few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a global health concern. This disease is similar to smallpox and among its signs are fever, skin rashes, and muscle aches. Respiratory symptoms may also be present.
Monkeypox is already endemic in several countries in Africa even before it became a global health concern. However, since the past few months, there are growing cases of this disease in several nations where it is not endemic. The WHO declared a global emergency and released guidelines for fighting the spread of this disease.
This viral disease can be passed on through human-to-human contact but animals may also be infected and they can pass it on to humans. Direct contact is one of the modes of transmission of this disease.
The Philippines is one of the countries that logged cases of monkeypox. According to the Department of Health (DOH), the first case of this disease in the country is a 31-year-old returning Filipino who has a travel history to countries that recorded cases of monkeypox. The patient was in isolation and has already recovered from the disease.
The health department also previously said that the close contacts have finished their isolation and showed no signs of the disease. Recently, DOH confirmed that two (2) new cases of monkeypox were detected in the Philippines.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the two (2) new cases of monkeypox in the country are a 34-year-old and a 29-year-old. The former tested positive in an RT-PCR test conducted last August 18, 2022 while the latter took the RT-PCR test which yielded positive results last August 19, 2022.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the patients have fever and they also developed lesions in their bodies. The health officer reminded the public that the disease may start with bodyaches and fever and the lesions may develop after three to four days since the onset of the signs.
The health department said that both new cases were from other countries that recorded cases of monkeypox. Reportedly, the 34-year-old patient is now under home isolation while the 29-year-old patient is isolated in a medical facility. Contact tracing for both patients is ongoing.
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