Lanao del Sur health execs sound alarm vs Mpox

COTABATO CITY — Health authorities in Lanao del Sur have sounded the alarm about a suspected case of monkeypox (Mpox) discovered in the province.

In a health advisory on Thursday, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), headed by Dr. Alinader Minalang, said the patient suspected to have Mpox is from the coastal town of Malabang.

“The patient is currently admitted at Amai Pakpak Medical Center (in Marawi City), and laboratory confirmation of the case is pending,” the IPHO advisory said.

The patient is under observation and contact tracing is ongoing, according to the IPHO.

The IPHO said that it had raised a “Code White Alert” and reactivated the disease surveillance units across the province to enhance monitoring, reporting, and response to potential cases.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), “Code White Alert refers to the readiness of hospital manpower like general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses, ophthalmologists, and otorhinolaryngologists, to respond to any emergency situation.”

READ: Monkeypox cases could be ‘peak of iceberg’ — WHO

Also during Code White Alert, “emergency service, nursing and administrative personnel residing at the hospital dormitory shall be placed on an on-call status for immediate mobilization,” the DOH said.

The IPHO said it also reactivated a task force that would ensure coordinated containment efforts, including contact tracing and public awareness campaigns.—EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ