DOH: More Mpox cases expected

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is anticipating more positive Mpox cases following more testing done all over the country.

“We anticipate more positive mpox cases because we are testing as fast and as broad as we can. (But) Increasing case counts does not mean increasing infections. Mpox Clade II has always been around, with people getting it via close, intimate skin to skin contact. They have also been recovering, and there have been no deaths since,” said DOH in a statement released yesterday.

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa further said that even with the possible increase, they will not implement any border control or community quarantine (lockdowns), as well as there is no need for mandatory wearing of masks.

“Sabi ko, bawal ang mandatory mask mandate, bawal ang border control, bawal ang lockdown,” Herbosa said.

Herbosa even said in jest that he is going to fire anyone at DOH who will recommend such a measure to him.

“Kung may taga DOH na mag rerecommend sa akin nun, humanap na sila ng ibang trabaho dahil tatanggalin ko sila sa DOH dahil hindi yun ang mag piprevent. Marami ang traumatized pa sa ginawa natin sa COVID,” added Herbosa.

“We will not mandate face masks or face shields. The best prevention is frequent hand washing and hygienic practices," stressed Herbosa.

Covering one's skin in crowded areas, and washing hands often with soap and water (or using alcohol sanitizers) will kill the virus while objects can be made virus-free by the usual disinfectants and alcohol, DOH’s advisory also said.

Since 2022, the country has recorded 23 total cases of MPOX, 14 of which had been noted this year, but no fatalities recorded.

All 14 active cases are from Luzon area and have the Mpox Clade II variant, which is the milder variant of Mpox.

“Mpox Clade II has always been around, with people getting it via close, intimate skin to skin contact…It’s an old variant and no detection of clade 1 so far,” said Herbosa, who stressed anew that unlike COVID-19 that is airborne, Mpox Clade II is transmitted by close and intimate, skin-to-skin contact and through objects touched by patients with active skin lesions. It does not spread as fast and as wide as COVID-19.

Herbosa said there is no need to be scared of this as the situation remains very manageable, and DOH is on top of the situation.

Those that had been infected have no epidemiological link because of early detection, identification, isolation and treatment.

Herbosa disclosed that he met with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) last week, but said there is no need for them to reconvene just yet.

A task force for Mpox has also been created by the DOH with experts of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases already being gathered.

“Sabi ko hindi pa natin kailangan e-convene ang IATF, dahil DOH lang naman on its learnings on Covid-19 can handle this particular disease. So kaya pa po. Sabi ko yung sakit na to, skin-to-skin, close individual contact…hindi sya kakalat ng mabilis at madaling e-control,” Sec.Herbosa added.

DOH accordingly is also coordinating with the World Health Organization for testing while agreeing that vaccines will have to be focused first in Congo for disease control.

An initial funding of P158 million in the next three months to be sourced out from the public health fund have also been prepared, Herbosa said, while they also actively negotiate with ASEAN countries for the anti-viral meds and vaccines.

“There is no added value to health for a public counting of cases. It only leads to anxiety and mental health problems. Surveillance, case finding, and community engagement is best handled by the DOH and local health authorities," Herbosa said.

DOH added that the IATF-MEID is being updated regularly, but will not be activated for now as containment can be implemented by DOH and LGUs should they get an imported case of Mpox Clade Ib.

DOH may consider activating the IATF should there be community transmission of Mpox Clade Ib. — (FREEMAN)