An infectious disease specialist stated on Monday that it is possible for visitors to the country who are infected with the rare monkeypox virus to bring it back into the country with them.
During a televised public briefing, vaccine Experts Panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante stated that monkeypox, which is common in portions of Central and West Africa, has been identified in countries with “high-tech healthcare facilities.”
“With travel, you know now the possibility of one infection, a person carrying the infection can also travel a lot and can also enter a country that’s where the vulnerability of the most population, when one has the infection incubating and then arriving in the Philippines and develop the symptoms upon arrival or after the arrival,” Solante said.
According to the World Health Organization, the disease has lately emerged in a total of 12 different nations, including the United States of America, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is caused by the monkeypox virus, which can spread through lesions, fluids from the body, and respiratory droplets.
“For the monkeypox, the most common human to human route of transmission or mode of transmission is only respiratory droplets, so meaning within three feet talking to each other without any face mask that’s the mode of transmission,” Solante said.
Expert warns monkeypox virus may enter Philippines via travel
Solante noted that Covid-19 is more contagious than monkeypox because it may be transmissible in multiple ways, whereas monkeypox can only be spread in one method.
“Aside from the droplets, you also have airborne because of a very small particle, it can remain in the air, and you’ll be exposed, that’s another way, and there’s also contact transmission,” he said.
However, it may be avoided by adhering to the same minimum standards for public health protocols observed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back discomfort, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and a skin rash or lesions are some of the symptoms associated with this condition.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination against smallpox could help curb the spread of the monkeypox virus.
The government is keeping a close eye on the spread of the monkeypox virus in other countries, but at this time, it does not appear likely that the borders will be shut down.
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