THE Department of Health (DOH) said that “Monkeypox,” a viral disease that comes from animals, has not been detected within the Philippines and its borders.
The DOH issued today an advisory regarding the recent cases of Monkeypox that surfaced in European countries, the US, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The advisory was also issued by the DOH to protect the general public not just from the disease but also from misinformation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes Monkeypox as an animal-borne disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas particularly in Central and Western Africa, and can also reach other regions.
Common symptoms are fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes, which may lead to a range of medical complications, the DOH advisory said. It is transmitted to humans through close contact, or wounds, body fluids and respiratory droplets with an infected person or animal, even contaminated materials.
However, although it may resemble Smallpox, it is less contagious and causes less severe illness.
The DOH continues to remind the public that minimum public health standards (MPHS) such as wearing of best-fitting mask, good ventilation, clean hands and physical distancing will prevent Monkeypox transmission inasmuch as MPHS protects the public against COVID-19.
Likewise, the agency assured that it has already intensified screening at the country’s borders and with surveillance systems actively monitoring the situation.