BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Negros Occidental is in the process of identifying medical facilities to be designated as quarantine areas for monkeypox cases.
PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said they are coordinating with the provincial government’s Hospital Operations Division for this with approval from Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
Monkeypox has a tendency to become severe although the mortality rate is very low, said Tumimbang.
“The point is that we have to prepare. There may be a need to hospitalize a person with monkeypox,” he explained.
As part of the preparations, Tumimbang is set to meet with municipal and city health officers in Negros Occidental on Thursday to brief them about monkeypox.
“We will echo to them all the data given by the Department of Health (DOH) regional office in a Zoom meeting on Monday,” Tumimbang said.
Monkeypox is spread by close contact and exposure to an infected person’s respiratory droplets, skin lesions or bodily fluids.
Monkeypox symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, and a rash that may initially be mistaken for chickenpox or a sexually transmitted disease if in the genital or anal region./PN