AFTER nursing thousands of leptospirosis patients, the country faces new challenges, this time over a 160 percent increase in the total caseload of monkeypox (now referred to as mpox) after another Filipino yielded positive to the deadly disease.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the latest addition to the rapidly growing number of mpox patients which was reported on August 18 has brought the total caseload to 10.
Interestingly, the case of the 33-old mpox positive is detected in the country this year, the last case being in December 2023.
“The case is a 33 year old male Filipino national with no travel history outside the Philippines but with close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset,” reads part of the DOH statement.
According to the health agency, his symptoms started more than a week ago with fever, which was followed four days later by findings of a distinct rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, as well as palms and soles.
The unnamed patient, DOH added, was brought to a government hospital where specimens were collected from the skin lesions and tested via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“PCR test results are positive for Monkeypox viral DNA.”
“Three weeks ang recommended period of isolation. 21 days ‘yun, until mag-dry up ‘yung mga lesions sa balat,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in reference to the patient whom he claimed remains in isolation.
According to the health chief, all the previous mpox cases in the country “were isolated, cared for, and have since recovered,”
The DOH chief also warned that mpox can hit anyone through close and intimate contact with someone who is infected, through contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or through infected animals.
He however clarified that there is no need to put up isolation places even as he recommended home isolation for individuals who have symptoms or are positive with mpox.
He also warded off the need for mandatory masking.
“Supportive care. ‘Yung sintomas mo ang ginagamot. Kapag nilalagnat sila, bibigyan sila ng paracetamol. Kung may makati sa kanila, anti-kati at aalagan ‘yung mga lesions nila,” Herbosa explained.
“Yung ibang doktor, pwedeng mag-prescribe ng antiviral na medication lalo na kung may comorbidity sila pero hindi lahat bibigyan. Kung healthy ka, magre-recover ka without problem.”
Among the hospitals he claimed to have the technical capability to diagnose mpox are the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and the UP-Philippine General Hospital, among others. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
