DOH upbeat on monkeypox surveillance capabilities, preparedness

Test tubes labelled “Monkeypox virus positive and negative” are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it is confident that its surveillance teams would be able to detect all cases of monkeypox that will enter the country.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency has deployed surveillance teams in airports and other points of entry as early as May and briefed its personnel what to look out for in a monkeypox infection.

The Bureau of Quarantine is likewise coordinating with the DOH for the surveillance of the disease.

“So we have this kind of capability for surveillance and katulad niyan nakapag-detect tayo ng unang kaso so we are confident na sana ay lahat naman ay ma-detect natin kung makapasok dito sa ating bansa,” Vergeire said in an interview on ABS CBN’s TeleRadyo.

(We have this kind of capability for surveillance and we were able to detect our first case so we’re confident that we will be able to detect all cases that will enter the country.)

DOH Officer-in-Charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire (Screengrab from RTVM video.)

Vergeire said the first case in the country is currently in isolation and “continuing to recover.” She said the patient’s fever has already subsided but he or she is still recovering from the rashes.

The 31-year-old patient’s 10 close contacts are also undergoing quarantine, she said.

Vergeire said isolation of monkeypox-infected individuals takes up to 21 days after their symptoms, especially the rashes, have resolved.

She said incubation period for the disease ranges from five to 21 days.

Those who were tagged as close contacts of a case can isolate at home since the disease is not airborne and is contracted through direct contact, the Health official added.

No need for special referral hospital

Unlike COVID-19, monkeypox won’t need any referral hospital that would solely cater to cases since there are several hospitals in the country capable of handling monkeypox infections, Vergeire said.

Such hospitals include the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and level 3 hospitals.

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