MANILA, Philippines – Kasunod ng kumpirmasyon ng
Clade Ib ng mpox sa Thailand nitong Huwebes, Agosto 22, possible rin na makarating ang mapanganib na variant na ito sa Pilipinas sa madaling panahon.
Ang Clade 1b ang kasalukuyang nagpapalobo sa kaso ng sakit sa central Africa, dahilan para ikonsidera ito ng World Health Organization bilang isang public health emergency of international concern.
Sa panayam, hinimok ni Department of Health spokesperson Albert Domingo ang publiko na manatiling alerto kahit na hindi pa nakakapasok sa bansa ang variant na ito na nagdudulot ng mas grabeng sakit.
“Ngayon pa lang, huwag po tayo maging parang papetiks-petiks just because Clade II [ang nasa bansa]. We can delay it as long as we can, but it will probably reach us,” ani Domingo.
Kamakailan ay inanunsyo ng DOH ang unang kaso ng mpox sa bansa na isang Clade II – o kaparehong uri na nagdulot sa pagtaas ng kaso noong 2022.
Napag-alaman na ito ay nagdudulot ng mas mahinang uri ng sakit na may 99.9% chance of survival.
Sa kabila ng outbreak na karamihan ay nasa Africa pa lamang, sinabi ng World Health Organization na hindi dapat makampante ang mga bansa sa mundo.
“Cover those lesions if you have lesions. The other thing is someone has lesions, if they are symptomatic, to avoid having sex. Because if we know they’re in the sexual networks, then that is one way. Sexual transmission is one way in which the mpox virus is spread between people. If you have mpox yourself, avoid contact with others,” ayon kay WHO Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.
“Mainly people who have underlying conditions, immunocompromised individuals if they are infected with the mpox virus, may have worse outcomes. This is really important in HIV populations, in populations that are immunosuppressed that you know, if the virus is circulating near you, what you can do to prevent yourself from getting infected and where you can seek care.” RNT/JGC
