By Jasper Marie O. Rucat
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — With the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 14, the Department of Health Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) has urged the public to avoid closed intimate contact such as sexual contact, kissing, hugging, or direct contact with strangers or acquaintances to avoid getting Mpox or monkeypox virus.
In Talakayan sa PIA: Konsultayo Series on September 6, Medical Officer Dr. John Daniel Estandarte of the DOH-CHDNM Infectious Diseases Cluster shared that, although Mpox is an orthopoxvirus and a viral illness originally from Africa, there are many ways to catch it, but close intimate contact is the most significant way it can spread to another human being.
The doctor explained that another way is through fomites, which are the fluids from lesions. If another person touches a surface contaminated with lesion fluid, they may contract the infection.
Talakayan sa PIA: Konsultayo Series with Department of Health-10 discussed the Mpox virus photo op with local media. (Photo: MBA/PIA10)
However, it is not a deadly disease. The doctor clarified that an Mpox-infected person typically recovers after 21 days if they do not have co-morbidities or secondary infections, are not high-risk, are not very young, or have a compromised immune system.
“Ang worst mahitabo sa imo kay mapangit lang imong panit. Kining Mpox naa siya’y chance nga mag-permanent scarring,” Estandarte said.
(The worst thing that can happen to you is that your skin gets ugly. This Mpox has a chance of permanent scarring.)
Since it is a viral illness, it has an incubation period of 5–21 days. Mpox usually starts through fever, body aches, weakness, and, unique to Mpox, enlarged lymph nodes and painful rash.
DOH only advises hospitalization for patients who are at high risk, such as pregnant women, young children under eight years old, and those with compromised immune systems, such as cancer and HIV patients; otherwise, home isolation is an option.
MPox is characterized by its distinct rash.
“Naa siya’y rash nga grabe ka klaro, well circumscribed, klaro gyud siya nga lingin, dayon katong sa mga earlier stages, naa siya’y ginatawag nga umbilications, mura siya’g umbilical cord mura siya’g pusod, galawom-lawom siya didto, afterwards mag-progress na dayon ang iyahang lesions sa skin, mahimo siyag masudlan og tubig,” said Estandarte.
(He has a rash that is very clear, well circumscribed, it is clearly round, then in the earlier stages, he has what is called umbilications, like the umbilical cord; he is deep there; afterwards, his rash will progress to lesions on the skin, which can get water.)
Further, it is bigger than chickenpox, and the rashes and lesions encompass the whole body and progress at the same time.
For now, in the Philippines, there is no antivirus; this type of disease does not get worse; the treatment is supportive; if you have a fever, give paracetamol; if you have itching, give antihistamine, said the doctor.
Mpox is endemic to Africa and a zoonotic disease, meaning it comes from animals that mutated and can now infect humans.
Currently, there are eight active Mpox cases in the Philippines, six from the National Capital Region and two from Calabarzon. (JMOR/PIA-10)
