Hospitals brace for monkeypox outbreak
HOSPITAL in the Philippines are preparing for a possible outbreak of monkeypox in the country.
President of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) Rene Jose de Grano said on Saturday that although no case has so far been reported in the Philippines, their members and relevant government agencies are now on high alert.
“Binabantayan po natin diyan ay fever, muscle pain, pagkakaroon ng kulani at rashes na typical sa supposedly na monkeypox (What we are monitoring are such symptoms as fever, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes, which are typical of monkeypox),” de Grano said in a Laging Handa briefing.
“(N)aghahanda na po ang lahat ng ating local government units (LGUs), ang Department of Health na kung sakali mang magkaroon tayo ng kasong ganito ay ma-contain agad natin (The LGUs and DOH are boosting efforts to prepare for monkeypox so that they can contain it immediately if it enters the country).”
If there is a reported case, the patient would be immediately isolated in a separate ward and given supportive care, he said.
“(Dahil) wala pa namang vaccine for this thing, ang gagawin natin ay isolate then supportive treatment (Because we don’t have a vaccine for this disease yet, what we will do is isolate and provide supportive treatment),” he added. Philippine News Agency
