Private hospitals ready for monkeypox cases

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WITH four monkeypox cases detected in the country, the Private Hospitals Association Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) yesterday said it member-hospitals are ready to handle patients.

“All hospitals accepting COVID-19 patients are equipped with their own isolation facilities (for monkeypox cases),” PHAPI president Dr. Jose de Grano said in a public briefing,

“Any time there is a suspected monkeypox patient, we will immediately isolate and test the individual so that we can already determine if it is really monkeypox,” he added.

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De Grano said healthcare workers are also ready to handle monkeypox cases as they have been properly informed on the signs and symptoms of monkeypox like fever, swollen glands, and rashes.

The health workers are also provided personal protective equipment “because if they get infected, we will also suffer,” De Grano said.

The detection of the fourth monkeypox case — a 25-year-old Filipino — was made public by the Department of Health last Monday.

Unlike the first three, the fourth has no travel history to countries with documented cases of the viral disease. The DOH has initially identified 14 close contacts.

The first case has recovered and discharged from isolation early this month. The second and third cases were still undergoing home isolation and in stable condition.

The DOH has repeatedly advised the public to seek seek medical attention if they show symptoms.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of central and west Africa. At least 80 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks. Worldwide, at least 45,535 cases have been recorded as of August 24.

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