The Department of Health (DOH) has published updated interim guidelines on the prevention, detection, and management of mpox which aim to provide detailed operational protocols to ensure that health system actors at all levels can effectively combat the re-emerging disease.
In a statement issued on Aug. 29, DOH said that the updated interim guidelines were published after a “thorough consideration of the best available evidence, expert guidance, and domestic experience” from the recent pandemic.
The updated DOH Mpox Guidelines, issued as Department Memorandum No. 2024-0306, provide a sufficient level of operational detail so that health system actors at all levels will have standard protocols to address the re-emerging disease.
DOH explained that the main document consists of eight pages with guidance following the Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Quarantine, Treat, and Reintegrate (PDITR) framework.
“Formal case definitions are also included along with a visual review of mpox skin lesions,” DOH said.
DOH noted that the document also includes a blank case investigation form (CIF) with a contact listing form—tools that field epidemiologists use to document each patient's circumstances so that their data may help inform the public health response.
References are also listed to allow for rigorous review and refinement as the mpox situation develops.
Scientific and agile
DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa explained that the updated DOH Mpox Guidelines are “scientific and agile,” as they were drafted by Filipino experts for Filipino communities and are fully aligned with the international response.
“The Department appreciates the support of all those helping us continue to prepare for a better battle against mpox,” Herbosa said.
Mpox in the Philippines
Based on the latest data from DOH, there are 14 recorded cases of mpox in the country—five of which are active cases detected this month.
The nine mpox cases detected in 2022 and 2023 have already recovered, according to DOH.
Unlike clade 1b, the deadly mpox strain spreading in Africa and other countries, DOH said all detected mpox cases in the Philippines belong to clade II, or the “milder variant” of the virus.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/21/doh-confirms-mpox-case-10-as-clade-ii-variant-why-it-matters
As part of its efforts to combat the potential entry of mpox from abroad, DOH said the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) has already implemented changes in its screening process for travelers.
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Earlier, DOH also mentioned that it is looking to secure mpox vaccines once they become available.
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https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/22/why-the-mpox-vaccine-is-not-yet-available-in-the-philippines