(By Ellicia Del Mundo)
Dr. Rontegene Solante, an infectious disease expert, said monkeypox cannot infect people through the air but through droplets or fluids.
“Hindi siya airborne but droplet. Halimbawa, within three feet, makipag-usap ka sa may ganitong klaseng sintomas, it can also cause droplet transmission dun sa laway or fluids na lumalabas sa bibig niya,” Solente explained in an interview with Gerry Baja during DZRH’s Dos por dos on Friday, July 29.
He said the mode of transmission is also through intimate sexual contact or intimate close contact.
“Ang mode of transmission sa mga kaso nito ngayon, even sa ibang bansa is what we called intimate sexual contact or intimate close contact. Kadalasan nakikitaan ang ganitong sintomas ay those having sexual contacts with multiple partners,” he asserted.
Other than droplets and intimate close contact, he said a person who touches the skin lesion can also be infected.
“Kapag hinahawakan mo itong skin lesions, they are highly infectious. So kapag hinawakan mo then you touch your nose, you touch your mouth, pwede kang makakuha ng infection,” he explained.
Solante said the symptoms of monkeypox are fever, headache, and body ache. After three to five days, he said skin lesions will occur which poses a high risk of infection.
The skin lesions occur commonly in the mouth, genital, and anal areas, he said.
He explained that the reason why cases of monkeypox in other countries are increasing is due to the stigma and discrimination.
“Kaya nga tumaas ang kaso nito sa ibang bansa dahil alam naman natin na na pag nakakitaan ka ng ganito sa STD Clinics, there is stigma and discriminations. Hindi ka kagad nagsasabi, dumadami na pala, lumalago na pala. Nung nag contact tracing sila, marami na pala. In fact, yung ibang kaso duon, they infected yung mga anak, mga asawa,” he shared.
He said the government needs to increase awareness not only in the hospitals and usual clinics but also in the STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) clinics, Social Hygiene Clinic, and even HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) clinics.
On Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the Philippines in a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived from abroad last July 19.
The patient, who had travel histories in countries with documented cases of monkeypox disease, tested positive for the infectious disease through an RT-PCR test on July 28.
Solante reminds the public not to panic and follow the health protocol.
“Huwag tayong mag-panic. Pangalawa, if you have skin lesions and you suspect na meron kang multiple partners, then you have to contact your doctor. Importante pa rin dito yung health protocol, maghugas ng kamay, magsuot ng mask especially sa mga gathering, importante yan,” he underscored.
