Agusan del Sur well being officers verify Caraga’s first recognized mpox case, and the affected person’s journey to Davao shortly earlier than he developed signs
BUTUAN, Philippines – The virus didn’t start in Agusan del Sur, however that’s the place it landed, carried by a person who had just lately traveled from Davao Metropolis, a spot already on alert for a number of confirmed circumstances of mpox.
The person is now in isolation in an area hospital, and the affirmation of his an infection registered as the primary recognized case of the viral illness in Caraga, a area that, till this week, had remained mpox-free, at the very least on paper.
The Caraga area, house to the world-renowned Siargao Island, is made up of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands and the cities of Butuan, Cabadbaran, Bayugan, Surigao, Bislig and Tandag.
Well being officers in Agusan del Sur confirmed the area’s first mpox case in a public advisory issued on Wednesday, June 18, and the person’s journey to Davao shortly earlier than he developed signs.
On June 2, the Division of Well being (DOH) within the Davao Area confirmed eight mpox circumstances, six of which have been recorded in Davao Metropolis.
“He had developed a pimple-like rash on the face and consulted a well being care supplier. He was instantly remoted in one of many hospitals within the province for shut monitoring and symptomatic therapy,” the Agusan del Sur Provincial Well being Workplace acknowledged in a public advisory.
Officers mentioned the confirmatory testing was carried out by the Analysis Institute for Tropical Drugs, the nationwide reference laboratory for infectious illnesses underneath the DOH.
The PHO mentioned the affected person’s shut contacts have been recognized and positioned underneath quarantine. As of posting, none have developed signs.
The advisory, signed by Provincial Well being Officer Jacqueline Frances Momville, didn’t disclose the identify or particular location of the hospital the place the affected person is confined.
Talacogon Mayor Pauline Marie Masendo took to social media to induce residents to remain secure, sharing a public advisory from the Talacogon Rural Well being Unit, following the confirmed mpox case.
Native officers suggested these experiencing signs to remain house and self-isolate, proceed to the closest well being heart, and endure testing and therapy to assist stop transmission and keep away from problems.
“This isn’t only for our personal security, but in addition to guard our households, youngsters, guests, and the whole group,” the advisory added.
Sophia Alejandro, a mom and resident of Butuan Metropolis, Caraga’s regional heart, mentioned she was much less alarmed by the mpox case than in the course of the COVID-19 interval, which noticed lockdowns throughout the area.
“The physician mentioned it’s not as extreme as COVID. It simply causes pores and skin issues. For me, it’s nothing to panic about. Individuals shouldn’t be alarmed,” Alejandro mentioned.
She added that whereas the illness might seem regarding, public consciousness was extra essential than inflicting pointless concern.
The PHO mentioned it was coordinating with native well being models and the Division of Well being-Middle for Well being Improvement (DOH-CHD) in Caraga to forestall group transmission and implement management measures.
In a separate assertion, DOH-CHD Caraga known as on the general public to stay vigilant and knowledgeable. It mentioned mpox is a viral and zoonotic illness, and that transmission happens primarily by way of direct pores and skin contact or oblique contact with contaminated supplies comparable to bedding and clothes.
Earlier, Dr. Amethyst Kathleen Alicante, cluster head of the DOH-CHD’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, mentioned, “Mpox is just not an airborne illness. It may be transmitted primarily by way of extended shut contact with an contaminated particular person or by way of contact with contaminated supplies.” – Rappler.com
