DOH: Effective local contact tracing key to addressing mpox cases

Effective local contact tracing is important to curb the spread of mpox in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said although it is not encouraged, local government units have the right to screen possible mpox patients.

“We are not encouraging it kasi mag-i-slowdown ang takbo ng mga tao. What is important is the ability to contact trace locally,” Domingo said.

“Mayroon naman tayong Clade 2, matagal nang umiikot, mas mabilis dapat 'yung contact tracing than border control,” he added.

(We are not encouraging it because the people's pace will slow down. What is important is the ability to contact trace locally. We have Clade 2, it has been around for a long time, contact tracing should be faster than border control.)  

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the mpox virus has two clades: Clade 1, which causes more severe illness and deaths, and Clade 2, the less severe virus that caused the global outbreak that began in 2022.

Earlier this week, the government mandated passengers going in and out of the country to declare if they have had rashes, vesicles, or blisters in the past 30 days before their travel.

The DOH is also working with the Food and Drug Administration to manage the entry of antiviral treatments for mpox into the country, Domingo said.

“May compassionate special permit na puwedeng gawin at balak gawin ng DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. 'Pag ganon not longer than two days, puwede magpasok ng antiviral,” Domingo said.

(There is a compassionate special permit that the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine can and intends to do. With that, the antiviral can enter the country in not longer than two days.

The country has five active mpox cases.

QC reports first mpox case

Meanwhile, Quezon City recorded its first mpox case.

The Quezon City government said the patient is a 37-year-old resident who is currently admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital.

The patient began showing symptoms on August 16 and was admitted to the hospital six days later.

His specimen was brought to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). On August 26, the result came out positive for the mpox virus.

The city government said the man has a recent local travel history.

"Sa ngayon, mahigpit nating binabantayan ang kalagayan ng residente. Natukoy na rin natin ang 15 contacts niya at patuloy natin silang mino-monitor," Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

(We are strictly monitoring the condition of the resident. We have already traced the 15 contacts, and we continue to monitor them.)

On Friday, the Health Department issued updated guidelines for the prevention, detection, and management of mpox in the country.

Domingo said regular washing of hands and wearing long sleeves and pants are important to prevent acquiring the disease. — VBL, GMA Integrated News