Davao City confirms additional cases of Monkeypox
THE CITY Health Office confirmed four new Monkeypox cases in the city, as of April 30, in addition to the two previously admitted patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
Dr. Sofia Corazon D. Zafra, CHO Emerging & Re-emerging Infectious Disease medical coordinator, said of the holdovers from April 18, one unfortunately died and one already recovered.
“The four new cases are currently under isolation and in a stable condition,” Zafra said during the city-owned radio Madayaw Davao episode on Friday.
According to Zafra, the four cases are currently isolated in SMPC under close monitoring. She did not reveal the areas where they got the infected but said these were from Davao City.
Meanwhile, the close contacts and their family members are also being monitored but they will not be isolated according to DOH memorandum 2024-0306 released August 2024.
The memorandum stated that all close contacts of Mpox patients “shall be monitored,or self monitor” for a period of 21 days from the last contact of the suspect, probable, or confirmed case.
Zafra said upon daily monitoring, the close contacts have not shown any symptoms, as of present.
Asked if wearing a face mask in the city will be mandatory, Zafra said it is voluntary, as the measure is not necessarily for prevention of mpox, but wearing should be done in enclosed and crowded spaces.
“We can wear a face mask because it is flu season, but wearing a face mask is not necessary unlike Covid that is airborne,” Zafra stressed.
