No mpox lockdown, DOH says

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) gave a direct answer to questions on the possibility of another lockdown following the agency’s announcement of new mpox cases in the country.

This comes exactly a week after it confirmed the detection of the country’s first active case since the virus was declared as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) two weeks ago.

“Magla-lockdown ba? The answer is no. Iba kasi ‘yung mode of transmission. Alam na alam natin kung paano. At equipped tayo for mpox compared to the time when COVID-19 hit us,” Health Spokesperson Albert Domingo told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.

(Will there be a lockdown? The answer is no. The mode of transmission is different and we know how this happens. We are equipped right now for mpox compared to the time when COVID-19 hit us.)

Following the health agency’s briefing on mpox with the WHO, Domingo said the country’s efforts towards curbing the spread of the virus is exactly what the WHO reiterated countries should do, particularly establishing strong surveillance systems that would detect cases faster to provide patients with much needed intervention.

PATIENTS CONNECTED?

Based on information from the health department, patients 10, 11, and 12 had neither travel history overseas nor contact with foreigners. All of them, however were said to have had close, intimate skin-to-skin contact at least three weeks prior to developing symptoms.

“We really do think this is a community transmission. But the important point here is the virus is Clade II or the milder form.”

Epidemiologists are working to determine whether the three active cases are connected to one another through places they visited or activities they had done. 

Domingo, however, said the possibility will always be there since all patients are from Metro Manila.

It may also be likely that the number of active cases in the country may be more than three.

“There’s a very strong possibility. That possibility will only be lessened if we refrain skin-to-skin contact for now because as the DOH Epidemiology Bureau has put it: local transmission has already been happening all these months.”

Health workers are now tracing close contacts of the two most recent cases while those of patient 10 have all been accounted for and have not developed any symptoms so far.

The observation of patient 10’s close contacts ends on September 1.

PUBLIC COOPERATION 

Domingo explained that slowing down the spread of the virus and seeing an end to transmission will only happen if the public as well as establishments cooperate and adhere to key messages from health experts and the government.

These include following minimum health standards and being responsible for individual actions like choosing to refrain from joining activities that may lead to the transmission of the disease, especially when one is ill.

The DOH also doesn’t see the need to stop the operation of establishments which offer services involving close physical contact. However, Domingo said such establishments need to cooperate with health workers if they are asked to do so.

QC orders closure of club for refusing to help mpox tracers

On Monday, the Quezon City government served a cease and desist order and notice of violation to F Club after its management refused to cooperate with the city’s contact tracers.

Domingo appealed to the public, especially to key populations where transmission of the virus is more commonly observed.

“Mpox affects everyone, but we are noticing na mukhang merong specific populations na doon umiikot. So ang ating appeal is kailangan lahat tayo tulung-tulong. Hindi naman kailangan kumbaga magsara. Hindi nga kami nagpapasara, eh. Pero ‘pag nagpa-contact trace po at lumapit, kumatok ang local government, ‘wag po natin silang pigilan.”

(We are seeing a specific population where the virus is circulating. We need to help one another. We are not ordering the closure of any establishment. But if contact tracing is being carried out by the local government, let’s not stop them from doing their jobs.)

EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRIAD

The DOH explained the various elements that may or may not lead to a virus spreading to uncontrollable levels.

Known as the epidemiologic triad, these elements are the pathogen, the environment, and the host. All elements, according to Domingo must be fully understood and acted upon to ensure a disease will have minimum impact on the public.

“If only two of these elements are favorable, there will still a chance for the virus to spread.”

In the context of mpox, the health official said two of the three elements are already favorable because there is enough knowledge about the pathogen and measures are in place that would ensure the safety of those in the environment.

However, Domingo said the host – or in simple terms an individual – should be mindful of the first two elements to make sure that all sides of the epidemiologic triad are strong enough to prevent the spread of the disease.

“Kung ‘yung tao ay petiks-petiks or hindi nakikinig, sinabi nang huwag muna mag skin-to-skin contact, eh ‘yun pa rin ang ginagawa at walang bahala, mababali pa rin yung triangle.”

(If the public remains complacent and disregard the advice of health experts to avoid skin-to-skin contact, then the virus will still have a chance to spread. We need the cooperation of all stakeholders.)

Domingo said the DOH is set to come up with answers to frequently asked questions about mpox, which they plan to distribute to different establishments in the hopes of reaching a great portion of the public.

It is also working on guidelines for certain groups and establishments to ensure that measures to avoid infections are as specific as possible.