MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Makati has formed a task force to monitor monkeypox cases to prevent community transmission of the said viral infection.
“We formed a task force last August 3 to proactively prevent monkeypox transmission in Makati,” said Mayor Abby Binay in a statement on Saturday.
As per government protocol, the suspected cases of monkeypox will be referred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for proper testing.
Binay said if a resident tests positive for monkeypox, the Makati City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Cesu) plans to use one of the three buildings of the Makati Friendship Suites in Barangay Cembo to monitor, isolate, and treat the patient.
The city would also provide free medicines and food packs to yellow card holders infected with the virus.
The local chief executive also said the Cesu is in close coordination with the Ospital ng Makati and that she will meet with officials of the Makati Medical Center and St. Clare’s Medical Center this Saturday to discuss the city’s action plan in case of a monkeypox outbreak.
Similar protocols to COVID
Binay said the local government eyes the integration of monkeypox data into their COVID-19 tracker.
This, she said, will enable them to “use data in making game-changing decisions like granular lockdowns to prevent community transmission.”
The local chief executive also said the city will continue to promote minimum public health protocols such as wearing face masks, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing since the monkeypox virus can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, and contaminated objects.
To date, Makati City has not reported any monkeypox cases.
The Philippines, however, has recorded the country’s first monkeypox case.
The patient has since recovered and was discharged from isolation.
But the 10 close contacts of the first monkeypox patient in the Philippines are still undergoing quarantine, said the DOH.
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