00:00The first concern of the public is the so-called monkeypox or mpox. How does this disease spread?
00:07We already have community transmission of the original virus, the mpox clade 2.
00:16So that means we have continued transmission.
00:18So what we should do is to be careful because it is spreading.
00:23And this is where I discovered that there are very popular spas that have parakeets in them and this is where we got our first case.
00:33I discovered that there are other spas in Metro Manila with the similar offerings, which has a jacuzzi, massage, and private rooms.
00:42And they go there to relax and to have a massage or to have a spa or whatever.
00:47So this is where our target is. So we've started to go around to declare that.
00:55I also created an mpox task force to monitor and increase surveillance.
01:01We cannot just act when we are already here.
01:04So it's good that we are able to target these diseases.
01:09We will increase the testing. We need to make sure that if the testing is high, people will be aware that if they have vesicles or mumps,
01:19they will go to the doctor. If you have bumps on your groin and private parts, you will go to the dermatologist, not to the emergency room.
01:28We are talking to the dermatologist about what we are doing now.
01:32Dr. Ted, to be more clear, it looks like a lump, but there are other symptoms. What should they monitor?
01:40If they have initial symptoms, what should they do?
01:43I think it's easy to control it as long as people know that this is a disease.
01:48You will also get infected. After you get infected, you will have a cough.
01:52Then the lump will come out. First it will be rash, then it will be like water, like chicken pox.
02:01But it's not like chicken pox, it's like herpes zoster. There are also lumps.
02:06But this is usually found in private parts. But it can also be found on the face, palms, and body.
02:14As long as you have that and you're not sure, our suggestion is to go to the doctor and we will identify the doctors.
02:22Then we will teach them how to get a sample and send it to RITF.
02:27The capacity to test is increasing. PCR test is increasing like the COVID PCR test.
02:35But the cartridge is different so we need to get more tests. Our capacity is limited.
02:41Our other test kits have expired and we need to buy more. So this is what the DOH is preparing for our country.
02:49Is there an initial remedy or first aid? What is the dangerous point that they really need an emergency?
03:00As long as the vesicles have water, they are very infectious.
03:05So the moment you have those symptoms, even if you're not a dermatologist, any doctor will inform about this new public health emergency of international concern.
03:18It's important to confirm and test. So that is what we are recommending.
03:24As you can see, the transmission rate is not that high. We have cases of B.
03:31But what can be done to avoid community transmission?
03:39The transmission of MPAX is through close and intimate contact, including portalic and sex.
03:48But we have seen in Africa, it can also be caused by the sharing of towels and clothes so you can touch somebody.
03:57But the likelihood is lower. But the real spread is skin to skin.
04:02With COVID, you can only rest. You can only stay in your room. Maybe tomorrow or the day after, you will have COVID.
04:09If you didn't remove your clothes, you didn't have close and intimate contact, you might not get infected.
04:18Once you're exposed, it's anywhere from 7 to 21 days.
04:22There are cases as far as 30 days, you can still get infected.
04:26So the range is quite long.
04:29So you really need to monitor for a longer period of time after you're exposed to a disease that is positive.
04:36What are the drugs that can be taken to arrest the disease or to develop incubation in a serious stage?
04:47So the usual, we recommend the usual drugs for the disease, paracetamol.
04:52But it has a drug, tecoviramat, which is an antiviral.
04:56Unfortunately, it's not registered and available.
04:59So I'm asking the WHO to provide it so we can have a supply.
05:06Of course, I will not fight in Africa because I'm sure this is needed.
05:11There is also a vaccine, Malu. There is a vaccine for mpox.
05:14But we also talked about it in a meeting with the WHO and other health ministers.
05:19We will distribute the vaccines to the countries that are outbreaking, which is Congo, Burundi, and the countries around them.
05:27So we can fight the spread.
05:29So we agree that we will wait.
05:31Although I have a queue of 2,500 doses, the ASEAN share, we call it the share of other countries in the vaccine so there is equity.
05:42So I have a queue there and we're doing the process so we can reach the Philippines.
05:48Do we still need to close our borders or ban travel?
05:52No, it's not recommended.
05:54The WHO did not require any border control.
05:58What we did, Malu, is we added questions on e-travel.
06:04So on e-travel, when you return to the Philippines, someone will ask you about the countries you went to.
06:11So you will be flagged if you put Democratic Republic of Congo.
06:15And then thermal scanning, we increased the temperature scan.
06:21And of course, if you have symptoms, we want people to be honest.
06:25Then go to our quarantine officers in uniform at the airport.
06:29Those who are behind the thermal scan, tell them you're from Thailand or Congo and you think you might have MPAX.
06:37We will help you to be examined and tested so we can make sure your symptoms are not MPAX.
06:44It looks like it's common through intimate contact.
06:48You said that you were surprised that there are SPAs.
06:52I'm sorry for the preferences of our people on their leisure or lifestyle.
06:58But are there health permits for these SPAs to be clear?
07:03Because it might be unfair that they are not allowed to go to certain places.
07:11What we will do is, even if they are at risk, those who work here, the SPA workers will be at risk also if we have transmission.
07:21So we will educate them. We're distributing posters to warn people.
07:26We're also going to teach them that the towels, bedsheets, things that you use in the SPA should be washed after the first client.
07:34It should not be reused without soap and water.
07:38Soap and water will kill the MPAX virus.
07:41So it's very important that all linens and towels should not be shared if it's already used.
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