The Department of Health (DOH) has detected and isolated the country's fourth confirmed case of monkeypox, it said on Monday, Aug. 22.
In a statement, DOH mentioned that the fourth case is a 25-year-old Filipino national with no documented travel history to or from any country with documented confirmed cases of Monkeypox.
The case was tested and confirmed positive for monkeypox via real time PCR by the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), with results released August 19, 2022. DOH added that the case is being cared for and is admitted in an isolation facility.
"Intensive case investigation and contact tracing is ongoing. To date, fourteen close contacts have been identified. One is currently taking care of the case in the isolation facility while six are undergoing quarantine," DOH stated.
"One is a healthcare worker who had complete personal protection equipment (PPE) at time of consultation of case, assessed as low risk, and is now self-monitoring. Details of the other six are being verified." it added.
DOH also mentioned that all four confirmed Monkeypox cases in the Philippines are unrelated to each other. The first case has already recovered and been discharged from isolation as of Aug. 6. The second and third cases are still in home isolation and in stable condition. No new contacts of these cases have been identified, DOH added.
It reminded that monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, but it is often transmitted through close, sustained physical contact, which can include sexual contact with those who have rashes or open lesions and is not like Covid-19 that spreads mostly through the air. Monkeypox symptoms are mild, and the disease is rarely fatal.
DOH reminded that everyone can help prevent the spread of monkeypox. It urged the public to avoid close, sustained physical contact with suspected cases, especially those with rashes or skin lesions. Keep hands clean. Wear a face mask. Cover coughs using the elbow, and choose areas with good airflow.
DOH also emphasized that anyone may get monkeypox. If someone has a travel history to countries with monkeypox, or have come into close and sustained physical contact with people who have rashes or open lesions, and then have symptoms like fever, lymphadenopathy or 'kulani', and rashes, they are advised to seek immediate medical attention to help hasten recovery.
"Ating tandaan na magkaiba ang Monkeypox at COVID-19. Ang Monkeypox ay kumakalat kapag nadikit sa balat ng may sakit na ito na siyang nakikitaang may mga butlig, o kaya sa kagamitan na nahawakan ng may sakit. Kung nakararanas ng lagnat, pamamaga ng kulani, at mga butlig sa balat, agad na kumonsulta sa pagamutan (Let us remember that Monkeypox is different from COVID-19. Monkeypox spreads through skin-to-skin contact with cases who have rashes or skin lesions, or with objects that have
come into contact with the case. If you have fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or skin lesions, immediately consult your healthcare provider)," said Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, DOH Officer-in-Charge.
Meanwhile, DOH also reminded that sensitive personal information, including photos, of an individual patient with unconfirmed/unspecified illness are circulating on social
media, in complete disregard of the patient's privacy and confidentiality of such data.
"The DOH condemns in the strongest possible terms this disrespect to the person which is also a violation of existing laws," it said.
DOH reminds all concerned that Republic Act No. (RA) 11332 specifically prohibits and penalizes the unauthorized disclosure of private and confidential information pertaining to a patient's medical condition or treatment.
It added that information about an individual's health is considered to be sensitive personal information, anyone who did not follow proper procedures in processing the said sensitive personal information may also be violating relevant provisions of the Data Privacy Act or RA 10173.