The Metro Manila Council (MMC) called for a more proactive and widespread information dissemination campaign on monkeypox or mpox after the Department of Health (DOH) logged 15 active mpox cases as of Wednesday, September 11.
MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, together with MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes, speaks during a press conference at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City. The MMC has issued a strong call for a more comprehensive and proactive information dissemination campaign regarding monkeypox or mpox in response to the Department of Health’s (DOH) report of 15 active cases as of Wednesday, September 11. (Mark Balmores)
Health Undersecretary Gloria Balboa made the announcement during an MMC meeting attended by MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, and other local executives.
According to Balboa, 11 of the active cases are from the National Capital Region (NCR), three from Calabarzon, and one from Cagayan Valley. Of the 15 cases, 14 are male patients while one is a female.
The agency said all the confirmed mpox cases were classified as Clade II which is a milder form of the virus.
Balboa allayed fears of the disease being as alarming as Covid-19 since the virus causing it is not airborne.
“This is not alarming unlike po yung Covid-19, kasi hindi naman airborne, hindi naman nandiyan lang sa hangin. This one is skin-to-skin, close intimate contact ang kanyang mode of transmission (This is not alarming unlike Covid-19 since this is not airborne. This disease spreads through skin-to-skin contact and intimate contact)," she explained.
She reminded the public to strictly maintain good hygiene and sanitation to avoid the disease.
"Iyong ating universal precautionary measures, yung disinfection ng mga contaminated surfaces, hand washing with sanitizers or even just the plain soap and water. Iyong ating proper way of washing our hands can kill po the virus (Let's all follow our universal precautionary measures which include the disinfection of contaminated surfaces and hand washing with sanitizers or even just plain soap and water. We must also practice the proper way of washing our hands as this can kill the virus)," she added.
Meanwhile, Zamora called on the DOH and other local government units (LGUs) to conduct widespread information campaign against the disease.
“Kung puwede, madalaw ng DOH ang aming mga LGU. Patawag tayong mga mayor ng townhall meetings kung saan nandoon ang ating mga barangay officials, kagawad, barangay health workers at ating city health officers para lang po malaman ng ating mga mamamayan (If possible, the DOH could visit our LGUs. We mayors could also conduct townhall meetings spearheaded by our barangay officials, kagawads, barangay health workers, and city health officers to educate our citizens on mpox)," Zamora said.