Davao City formulates measures vs Monkeypox

The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier declared Monkeypox as a “public health emergency of international concern.”

CHO head Dr. Ashley Lopez during his interview over the city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio said the city has received advisories from the WHO through the Department of Health to intensify surveillance efforts against Monkeypox. 

Lopez said the CHO has intensified its monitoring of the disease especially after neighboring countries like Thailand, Singapore and India have reported cases of the disease.

“Since it has already reached three Southeast Asian countries, it is not impossible for monkeypox to enter the Philippines,” Lopez said. 

Lopez described the mode of transmission of the disease as a “little complicated because it could be airborne and at the same time, bodily fluids.” 

“Compared to COVID, COVID is airborne, from respiratory droplets. Monkeypox can be transmitted through bodily fluids, not just from saliva, not only from coughing and sneezing, this can also spread through blood transfusion and transplacental transmission or even sexual transmission,”Lopez added. 

Lopez called on all Davaoeños to be vigilant, especially now that the city is starting to settle into the new normal.  

He said his office has also created the Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases Unit (ERID) which will be leading the emergency health response efforts in the event of a Monkeypox outbreak in the city. 

“The City Government of Davao since last month already has a contingency plan against Monkeypox,” he said.

Lopez further said the city has already formulated and organized ERID or Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases office under the City Health Office. 

The said unit is responsible for this kind of outbreaks and pandemics relating to emerging and reemerging diseases, according to Lopez.