CITY OF MALOLOS — Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando has ordered city and municipal mayors, as well as barangay captains, to prepare temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for mpox (formerly monkeypox) cases.
This was after the province recorded two confirmed cases of mpox in San Jose Del Monte City, the Provincial Public Affairs Office (PPAO) said in a statement on Thursday.
Citing the City Health Office, PPAO said the two cases have already fully recovered.
“Wala po tayong dapat ikabahala, ginagawa po ng ating Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ang lahat ng mga aksiyon na kinakailangan upang mapanatiling ligtas ang mga Bulakenyo mula sa banta ng Mpox,” Fernando said.
PPAO said the two mpox cases in the province were confirmed to have contracted the Clade II strain, a less severe variant of mpox virus.
It also said the two cases were not linked to each other, and that all identified close contacts were asymptomatic and have completed isolation protocols as a precautionary measure.
PPAO further said that contrary to the rumors being spread after the confirmation of the cases, the provincial government has no plans of implementing lockdowns in the province.
Aside from the setting up of temporary facilities, Fernando also ordered the local government units (LGUs) to monitor sanitation practices in private establishments and carry out public awareness campaigns to manage misinformation.
Hospitals were also reminded of their surge capacity responsibilities under national guidelines, requiring proper isolation rooms and beds to handle potential cases.
Health offices across the province were also instructed to report suspected cases immediately through the event-based Surveillance and Response Information System.
Mpox symptoms include skin rashes or mucosal lesions, fever, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat, muscle and body pain, headache and low energy.
To prevent possible infection of the virus, experts advise everyone to avoid skin-to-skin contact, have proper personal hygiene, conduct regular disinfection, wash hands regularly, and consult immediately with the nearest health center when symptoms persist. (UnliNews Online)
