Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is no need yet to close down the country's borders amid growing concerns about the monkeypox virus.
"Closing our borders....is somehow irrational at this point," said Vergeire during a press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 2.
"I'd like to tell everyone of you hindi po natin papalitan ang restrictions natin sa ngayon sa borders (that we will not change our restriction at the borders as of this time)," she added.
The DOH official said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has even "declared that the threat of this virus is low to moderate risk."
"At sinabi din nila, hindi natin kailangan itigil ang trade, hindi natin kailangan mag restrict ng ating borders (And they also said, we don't need to stop trade, we don't need to restrict our borders)," she said.
Vergeire also noted that there remains no recommendations from local experts regarding this matter.
'Don't be paralyzed by fear'
Vergeire also called on the public to not be paralyzed by fear, instead remain vigilant and practice safety measures to avoid contracting the disease.
"I just like to tell our kababayans, let us not be paralyzed with fear. Kailangan lang po talaga tayo ay vigilant, kailangan alam natin kung paano nakukuha ang sakit na ito, kailangan alam natin kung paano mapipigilan ang sakit na ito (We just need to be vigilant, we need to know how this disease is transmitted as well as preventions)," she said.
Vergeire also emphasized the importance of proper hygiene, particularly handwashing.
Intensify surveillance efforts
The DOH is also now working to equip other laboratories in the country for them to be able to detect the monkeypox virus.
So far, only the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is capable of conducting testing for monkeypox.
"Tayo rin po ay nag i-establish na rin ng laboratories sa iba'ibang areas ng country. We are now mobilizing and capacitating our subnational laboratories para magkararoon din ng kapasidad na madetect itong monkeypox (We will establish laboratories in different areas of the country. We are now mobilizing and capacitating our subnational laboratories so that they will have the capacity to detect this monkeypox )," said Vergeire.
"Ang ating mga ospital ay nabigyan ng kanilang (Our hospitals have been given) orientation and instructions on how we will deal with monkeypox virus," she added.