WITH COVID-19 still a public health problem of serious concern, the world is now taking notice of another virus outbreak that could also become an epidemic of region-wide proportions if not addressed well.
The new threat is called monkeypox, an infectious disease that is usually mild and is endemic in parts of west and central Africa. The virus that causes the disease came from animals, and is spread by close contact. Experts say this means it can be relatively easily contained through such measures as self-isolation and hygiene once a new case is identified.
Initially, health authorities issued warnings that monkeypox will show the following signs or symptoms in an infected person: headache, fever, chills, sore throat, malaise, fatigue, bumpy rashes and lymphadenopathy or swollen lymph nodes. It produces symptoms similar to smallpox, but only milder. In some instances, doctors have tried to use the smallpox vaccine against it, with promising results.
‘As the World Health Organization prepares to complete further guidance for countries on how to mitigate the spread of monkeypox, the Philippines is well on the right track in intensifying border screening and ensuring that surveillance systems are actively monitoring the situation…’
The World Health Organization noted that the monkeypox outbreak in 11 countries where it is not endemic is highly unusual. More than 100 confirmed or suspected cases have been reported, most of them in Europe.
As the World Health Organization prepares to complete further guidance for countries on how to mitigate the spread of monkeypox, the Philippines is well on the right track in intensifying border screening and ensuring that surveillance systems are actively monitoring the situation, considering that monkeypox cases are already in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and several other European countries.
It is reassuring that the Department of Health reported that monkeypox has not been detected in the Philippines or at its borders.
Early dissemination of information about this disease and how to identify and avoid it are of utmost importance, and we enjoin both the DOH, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Labor and Employment, along with the various embassies and consulates of the Philippines, airports and ports, to work together in monitoring the monkeypox situation and preventing it from entering the country. After the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity is no longer afraid and nations already know what to do should an epidemic rears its ugly head in the globe again.
The coming transition of national leadership on June 30 should not get in the way of preventing and/or preparing to fight this new public health problem.
