South Cotabato, Philippines – In the fight against monkeypox, Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. has assured South Cotabato’s safety amid growing concerns about the outbreak, with the support of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and other provincial health units in preventing the spread of the virus.
While a single case of monkeypox was reported in Luzon, Gov. Tamayo Jr. confirmed during the “Gov Meets the Press” briefing that the case has been resolved.
“Diri, wala pa man ta sang insidente nga may ara sang monkeypox,” he stated. “Padayon ang aton pagtutok sang amo na nga problema.”
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rogelio B. Aturdido Jr. emphasized that monkeypox is now classified as a public health emergency of international concern, as this infectious disease has spread across multiple countries and recently reached the Philippines in August this year.
“Last August, the Philippines was not spared from this,” Dr. Aturdido Jr. noted. “Because a lot of countries were already affected by monkeypox, it was considered a public health emergency of international concern.”
With a mortality rate ranging from 1 to 10 percent, Dr. Aturdido Jr. urged the public to remain alert. “Hindi naton ni siya dapat ibaliwala lang, because monkeypox, medyo mataas and mortality rate” he notified.
He also called on residents and local communities to report any suspected symptoms or cases of monkeypox to the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) or their respective municipal health offices.
Symptoms of monkeypox include blisters that typically appear 4-5 days after exposure, along with fever, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and other symptoms. Infected individuals must undergo a 21-day quarantine to monitor full recovery.
The virus primarily spreads through inhalation of fluid from blisters and close contact with infected individuals. “Atong may mga lesions, dapat hindi na siya pag pusaon kay ara dira ang virus,” Dr. Aturdido Jr. advised.
Furthermore, Dr. Aturdido Jr. urged local communities and officials to take proactive measures and collaborate in efforts to prevent an outbreak. “We are calling for the cooperation of all our government employees in South Cotabato Provincial Government kag sa tanan nga katawhan, I know that we can prevent this together,” he emphasized.
With the support of Gov. Tamayo Jr. and local health authorities, South Cotabato remains committed to protecting the province against the potential threat of monkeypox and other public health challenges.
