Here are some Mpox prevention measures according to the DOH.
MPOX PREVENTION – The Department of Health informs the public that wearing face masks is not effective in preventing this.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), monkeypox is caused by the virus Orthopoxvirus and is a zoonotic disease. This means that it is transmissible from animals to humans.
It has two types: Clade I, which causes more severe illness and deaths, and Clade II, which causes less severe infections. In a previous article, the DOH declared that there’s no need for a lockdown despite the rising cases, as the deadlier variant is not yet in the Philippines.
“There’s no need for a lockdown because mpox is not airborne,” the department added.
On Monday, the health department informed the public that wearing masks is ineffective in preventing the spread of the virus. As mentioned, the virus is not airborne, but what people must avoid is hugging, kissing, and other forms of close contact.
“Hindi face masks ang panangga sa mpox. Wag nilang tataasan ang presyo at wag nilang sabihin na mataas ang demand dahil DOH na ang nagsasabi na hindi ‘yan ang ginagamit sa mpox. Pwede kang mag face mask pero kung mag ki-kissing ka pa rin, hugging-hugging, makakakuha ka pa rin ng mpox,” DOH spokesman Albert Domingo said in a DZMM Radyo Patrol interview.
As per WHO, the viral illness may cause symptoms such as painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and low energy.
It can be transmitted through the following ways:
- Skin-to-skin: Touching, hugging, or $3x
- Mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact: Kissing
- Face-to-face with someone who has mpox: Talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles
- Through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces like beddings, clothing, and linens
People who have multiple intimate partners are at a higher risk of acquiring the mpox, and during pregnancy, mothers who are infected can pass the virus to the baby. Having this during pregnancy may have negative implications for the fetus or newborn infant. It can lead to loss of the pregnancy, stillbirth, death of the newborn, or complications for the parent.
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