Sa panayam kay DOH Sec. Ted Herbosa, tinalakay ang patuloy na pagtaas ng kaso ng mpox sa bansa at ang pagkakadiskubre ng mga spa na pinagmulan ng unang kaso. Alamin ang hakbang ng DOH upang bantayan at pigilan ang pagkalat ng sakit, kabilang ang edukasyon at pag-monitor sa mga high-risk establishments. Panoorin ang video. #TheMangahasInterviews
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00:00The first concern of the public is the so-called monkeypox or mpox. How does this disease spread?
00:07We already have community transmission of the original virus, the mpox clade 2.
00:16So that means we have continued transmission.
00:18So what we should do is to be careful because it is spreading.
00:23And this is where I discovered that there are very popular spas that have parakeets in them and this is where we got our first case.
00:33I discovered that there are other spas in Metro Manila with the similar offerings, which has a jacuzzi, massage, and private rooms.
00:42And they go there to relax and to have a massage or to have a spa or whatever.
00:47So this is where our target is. So we've started to go around to declare that.
00:55I also created an mpox task force to monitor and increase surveillance.
01:01We cannot just act when we are already here.
01:04So it's good that we are able to target these diseases.
01:09We will increase the testing. We need to make sure that if the testing is high, people will be aware that if they have vesicles or mumps,
01:19they will go to the doctor. If you have bumps on your groin and private parts, you will go to the dermatologist, not to the emergency room.
01:28We are talking to the dermatologist about what we are doing now.
01:32Dr. Ted, to be more clear, it looks like a lump, but there are other symptoms. What should they monitor?
01:40If they have initial symptoms, what should they do?
01:43I think it's easy to control it as long as people know that this is a disease.
01:48You will also get infected. After you get infected, you will have a cough.
01:52Then the lump will come out. First it will be rash, then it will be like water, like chicken pox.
02:01But it's not like chicken pox, it's like herpes zoster. There are also lumps.
02:06But this is usually found in private parts. But it can also be found on the face, palms, and body.
02:14As long as you have that and you're not sure, our suggestion is to go to the doctor and we will identify the doctors.
02:22Then we will teach them how to get a sample and send it to RITF.
02:27The capacity to test is increasing. PCR test is increasing like the COVID PCR test.
02:35But the cartridge is different so we need to get more tests. Our capacity is limited.
02:41Our other test kits have expired and we need to buy more. So this is what the DOH is preparing for our country.
02:49Is there an initial remedy or first aid? What is the dangerous point that they really need an emergency?
03:00As long as the vesicles have water, they are very infectious.
03:05So the moment you have those symptoms, even if you're not a dermatologist, any doctor will inform about this new public health emergency of international concern.
03:18It's important to confirm and test. So that is what we are recommending.
03:24As you can see, the transmission rate is not that high. We have cases of B.
03:31But what can be done to avoid community transmission?
03:39The transmission of MPAX is through close and intimate contact, including portalic and sex.
03:48But we have seen in Africa, it can also be caused by the sharing of towels and clothes so you can touch somebody.
03:57But the likelihood is lower. But the real spread is skin to skin.
04:02With COVID, you can only rest. You can only stay in your room. Maybe tomorrow or the day after, you will have COVID.
04:09If you didn't remove your clothes, you didn't have close and intimate contact, you might not get infected.
04:18Once you're exposed, it's anywhere from 7 to 21 days.
04:22There are cases as far as 30 days, you can still get infected.
04:26So the range is quite long.
04:29So you really need to monitor for a longer period of time after you're exposed to a disease that is positive.
04:36What are the drugs that can be taken to arrest the disease or to develop incubation in a serious stage?
04:47So the usual, we recommend the usual drugs for the disease, paracetamol.
04:52But it has a drug, tecoviramat, which is an antiviral.
04:56Unfortunately, it's not registered and available.
04:59So I'm asking the WHO to provide it so we can have a supply.
05:06Of course, I will not fight in Africa because I'm sure this is needed.
05:11There is also a vaccine, Malu. There is a vaccine for mpox.
05:14But we also talked about it in a meeting with the WHO and other health ministers.
05:19We will distribute the vaccines to the countries that are outbreaking, which is Congo, Burundi, and the countries around them.
05:27So we can fight the spread.
05:29So we agree that we will wait.
05:31Although I have a queue of 2,500 doses, the ASEAN share, we call it the share of other countries in the vaccine so there is equity.
05:42So I have a queue there and we're doing the process so we can reach the Philippines.
05:48Do we still need to close our borders or ban travel?
05:52No, it's not recommended.
05:54The WHO did not require any border control.
05:58What we did, Malu, is we added questions on e-travel.
06:04So on e-travel, when you return to the Philippines, someone will ask you about the countries you went to.
06:11So you will be flagged if you put Democratic Republic of Congo.
06:15And then thermal scanning, we increased the temperature scan.
06:21And of course, if you have symptoms, we want people to be honest.
06:25Then go to our quarantine officers in uniform at the airport.
06:29Those who are behind the thermal scan, tell them you're from Thailand or Congo and you think you might have MPAX.
06:37We will help you to be examined and tested so we can make sure your symptoms are not MPAX.
06:44It looks like it's common through intimate contact.
06:48You said that you were surprised that there are SPAs.
06:52I'm sorry for the preferences of our people on their leisure or lifestyle.
06:58But are there health permits for these SPAs to be clear?
07:03Because it might be unfair that they are not allowed to go to certain places.
07:11What we will do is, even if they are at risk, those who work here, the SPA workers will be at risk also if we have transmission.
07:21So we will educate them. We're distributing posters to warn people.
07:26We're also going to teach them that the towels, bedsheets, things that you use in the SPA should be washed after the first client.
07:34It should not be reused without soap and water.
07:38Soap and water will kill the MPAX virus.
07:41So it's very important that all linens and towels should not be shared if it's already used.