Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23) — It is not yet established if there is already a local transmission of monkeypox in the Philippines, a health official said on Tuesday, as the government continues to confirm the source of infection of the country’s fourth case.
Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Philippines’s fourth case of monkeypox has no history of travel to other countries with confirmed cases or contact with any patient.
“We cannot say for now that this is already a local transmission because we are still establishing the source of the infection,” she told CNN Philippines’ New Day. “We are still trying to establish and back trace as to where he got the infection.”
DOH on Monday said the 25-year-old patient was in an isolation facility. It identified 14 close contacts, including six in isolation, one taking care of the patient, and a health care worker on self-monitoring.
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. But DOH believes there is no need to tighten border controls; instead, surveillance and heightened awareness on the viral disease are considered as more effective in controlling its spread.
“It is not really a matter of if but it’s a matter of when if these cases come in the country. We just need to be vigilant especially in our communities, do our surveillance and immediately isolate people who have these symptoms,” Vergeire said.
Monkeypox is a less severe cousin of smallpox that can be transmitted between humans through close contact with an infected individual’s body fluids, sores, or contaminated items.
Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes that can turn into lesions. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said lesions could resolve over a period of two to three weeks.
The DOH, meanwhile, said it is now talking to two monkeypox vaccine manufacturers for the country to receive its first doses.
Vergeire said the government is working to get some monkeypox shots before yearend. She added one manufacturer committed to provide the Philippines with vaccines by early next year.
“Please remember that we do not do mass vaccination for monkeypox. We’re just going to vulnerable sectors and we are prioritizing those who had been exposed and also our health care workers,” she said.
