Should Filipinos Be Worried About Monkeypox?

World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared mpox or monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sounded the alarms on August 14, 2024 after a surge of cases in Africa. Should you be concerned? Here’s everything we know so far.

DOH has confirmed one case of monkeypox in the Philippines

BREAKING: Philippines detects first case of monkeypox @gmanews @24OrasGMA pic.twitter.com/DhGfbMEocu

— Joseph Morong (@Joseph_Morong) August 19, 2024

On August 19, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed they detected a new case of monkeypox in the Philippines. The case involves a 33-year-old Filipino male without a travel history outside the country. He started experiencing monkeypox symptoms more than a week ago: fever and distinct rashes all over his body.

“The case was seen in a government hospital, where specimens were collected from the skin lesions and tested via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test,” said DOH. The tests came back positive for the monkeypox virus.

According to DOH, this is the “10th laboratory-confirmed mpox case” in the country. Previously, the last case was recorded in December 2023. But all cases “were isolated, cared for, and have since recovered.”

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It’s similar to the ones that cause smallpox but unrelated to chickenpox. A person infected with monkeypox can suffer from painful rashes, enlarged lymph nodes, and fever.

According to WHO, more than 17,000 cases were recorded across Africa in 2024, a significant increase from 14,957 cases in 2023 and 7,146 cases in 2022.

The current outbreaks are declared in 13 African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Central African Republic.

How is it transmitted?

Via CDC

Monkeypox spreads through close contact with those infected. Person-to-person transmission can happen through:

Direct contact with rash, scabs, or bodily fluids
Respiratory droplets (through prolonged face-to-face contact)
Contact with contaminated items (clothing, bedding, utensils)

The virus then enters the body through broken skin or through the respiratory tract.

Humans can contract the virus through contact with infected animals. This can occur through bites, scratches, or during activities like hunting, skinning, trapping, preparing meat, or handling animal carcasses.

Symptoms of monkeypox

Here’s a quick overview of the symptoms in humans:

Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Backache
Chills
Tiredness
Swollen lymph nodes
A rash that often begins on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body

The most recognizable symptom of monkeypox is a rash that start as flat spots and turn into blisters. These blisters can spread all over the body — on the palms of hands, soles of the foot, face, mouth, throat, and even genitals, and even anus.

While most people recover within 2-4 weeks, severe cases can occur. These may involve skin infections, pneumonia, confusion, or eye problems leading to vision loss.

Treatment and vaccination

Yes, there is a monkeypox vaccine. With it being declared a global health emergency, WHO is also working with countries and manufacturers to make the vaccine accessible to more countries. The vaccine should be given within 4 days of contact with those infected.

While most cases of monkeypox can be resolved on their own within 2-4 weeks, extra supportive care is important. The infected should keep their rash clean and dry, covering with a bandage if necessary, to prevent infection. For severe cases, healthcare providers can give antiviral medications like tecovirimat.

How can you protect yourself from monkeypox?

Monkeypox cases are concerning but the risk of this becoming a COVID like pandemic is ZERO%

Why? This virus:

– is NOT novel…
– is typically not deadly
– is less contagious than COVID
– has been around for 5 decades
– is prevented by smallpox vaccine

Stay calm folks:)

— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) May 23, 2022

As a preventive measure, you should do the following:

Wear a face mask in public
Wash your hands with soap and water whenever possible
Use rubbing alcohol

When you’ve come in close contact with someone suspected or confirmed to have monkeypox, you should:

Immediately self-isolate
Contact a healthcare provider
Cover any breaks in the skin
Wear a face mask to avoid infecting other people
Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces and properly dispose of waste