Nagbabala ang Department of Health sa posibleng community transmission ng mpox sa Metro Manila. Sa ngayon, lima na ang naitalang bagong kaso sa bansa.
Bukod dito, nakapagtala rin ang DOH ng pagtaas ng kaso ng leptospirosis at dengue lalo na ngayong maulan ang panahon.
Nagpatupad na ng increased surveillance ang DOH para bantayan ang pagkalat ng mpox, pinaiigting na rin ng kagawaran ang kampanya kontra-dengue at leptospirosis.
Ang mga kasalukuyang health emergency sa bansa at iba pang isyung may kinalaman sa kalusugan, sasagutin ni DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
Bukod dito, nakapagtala rin ang DOH ng pagtaas ng kaso ng leptospirosis at dengue lalo na ngayong maulan ang panahon.
Nagpatupad na ng increased surveillance ang DOH para bantayan ang pagkalat ng mpox, pinaiigting na rin ng kagawaran ang kampanya kontra-dengue at leptospirosis.
Ang mga kasalukuyang health emergency sa bansa at iba pang isyung may kinalaman sa kalusugan, sasagutin ni DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
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NewsTranscript
00:00The first concern of the public is the so-called monkeypox or mpox. What is the situation now? How many cases and what are your findings? How is this disease spreading?
00:12Two weeks ago, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox again. There is a new clade or variant which is apparently more deadly, the mortality rate is higher.
00:24And because of this, the WHO was afraid. When we got that, the doctors also started testing. So let me stay clear, 1B has not yet reached the Philippines.
00:36Now, for us, the three cases, the significance of that is we already have community transmission of the original virus.
00:47What we should do is to be careful because it is spreading. We have created an mpox task force to monitor and increase surveillance.
00:58We will increase the testing. We need to make sure that if the testing is high, people will be aware if they have vesicles or clots, they will consult the doctor.
01:10Dr. Ted, to be clearer, it looks like clots but there are other symptoms. What should they monitor? If they have initial symptoms, what should they do?
01:21This disease, it will spread. After it spreads, the clots will come out. First, it will be rash, then it will be like water, like chicken pox, but it will not give birth to chicken pox, like herpes zoster, there are clots.
01:41But this is usually found in private parts, but it can also be found on the face, palms, and body.
01:49If you have such symptoms and you're not sure, our suggestion is to consult a doctor immediately. We are already identifying doctors.
01:57PCR tests have increased, just like the COVID PCR test, but the cartridge is different so our capacity is limited.
02:05Our other test kits have expired and we need to buy more.
02:10Is there an initial remedy or first aid? What is the dangerous point that they really need an emergency?
02:20As long as the vesicles have water, they are very infectious. The moment you have such symptoms, it's important to confirm and test. That's what we recommend.
02:34As you can see, the transmission rate is not that high. We have cases of B, but what can be done to avoid community transmission?
02:50So the transmission of mpox is through close and intimate contact, including sex.
02:58But it can also be found in findings in Africa, it can also be caused by the sharing of towels, clothes, so you can touch somebody, but the likelihood is lower.
03:10But the real spread is skin to skin. Once you're exposed, it's anywhere from 7 to 21 days.
03:17There are cases as far as 30 days, you can still get infected. So the range is quite long.
03:24So you really need to be careful for a longer period of time after you're exposed to a disease that is positive.
03:31What are the medicines that can be taken to arrest the disease or to develop incubation in a serious stage?
03:43But it has a medicine, tecoviramat, which is an antiviral. Unfortunately, it's not registered and available.
03:50So I'm asking the WHO to provide it so we can have supplies. Of course, I won't fight in Africa because I'm sure this is needed.
04:01There's also a vaccine, Malu. There's a vaccine for mpox, it's coming from cowpox.
04:08But that's also what we talked about in a meeting with the WHO and other health ministers.
04:13We will distribute the vaccines to the countries that have outbreaks so we can stop the spread.
04:19We will wait, although I have a queue for about 2,500 doses.
04:25Secretary, it seems like you're saying little about the issue of the return of the PhilHealth fund to the Bureau of the Treasury.
04:36What do you think? Should this fund be returned?
04:40Meanwhile, we're discussing so many issues and so many solidarities that should be protected.
04:47You know, the fund that they're saying was taken was not stolen.
04:54It was not taken from a member's contribution. It was not taken from a reserve fund.
04:59It was not taken from investment money of PhilHealth savings.
05:04It was taken from a government-appropriated subsidy for the poor, senior citizens, and PWDs.
05:16Every year, PhilHealth estimates how many senior citizens, PWDs, and the poor.
05:25Its premium is the payment of the premium of these three sectors.
05:31Every year, they ask for a lot.
05:36They enroll less by about 30 billion pesos.
05:41So this is not called savings.
05:44This is government appropriated that was not programmed.
05:48Because you asked for the money, you didn't use it for its intended use.
05:53It's not intended to pay for the hospitals and PhilHealth benefits.
05:57They get it from the premium.
06:00But for the ones you didn't enroll, those are excess funds.
06:04You can't call it savings.
06:05For many years, PhilHealth has been using savings and depositing it in treasury bonds.
06:13The Department of Finance is now paying the treasury of interest.
06:18They are also borrowing to pay the big interest.
06:21The DOF said it's wrong.
06:24Because the government, if you asked for money and you didn't use it for the purpose you said you will use it,
06:32you should return it.
06:34Correct.
06:36All of our agencies return it like that.
06:38So now, under the 2024 law, it's included that you can use the unprogrammed appropriations,
06:47the money given to the GOC that you didn't use,
06:51you can take the DOF and use it for other programs that are needed.
06:56So the excessive appropriations for three consecutive years,
07:00they said return it and we will use it for other things.
07:03Of course, no one opposed this when it was explained that reforms needed by PhilHealth are major.
07:10But it's a pity because a single-payer system like PhilHealth is supposed to be very good.
07:16In fact, what Ish is saying is not true, that they might run out of money.
07:23Even if you increase the benefits and your funding runs out, it is a pay-as-you-go insurance.
07:29What is a pay-as-you-go insurance?
07:31If your car is damaged, if you didn't get hit, your money is gone.
07:35You will have to pay another P30,000 to P50,000 the following year so that your car is still covered in case you get hit.
07:43That's PhilHealth. PhilHealth will never lose money.
07:47So don't believe PhilHealth that they might run out of money.
07:51I don't believe it because if the money runs out, the government will fund PhilHealth.
07:58We will just add the subsidy.
08:01PhilHealth.com