THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental will set aside P15 million for the laboratory and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test as part of its measures against monkeypox disease.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II said yesterday, August 30, that the province is now preparing the laboratories and test kits.

Diaz said the provincial government has already made arrangements with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for the training of medical technologists.

"We have already identified our medical technologists who are ready for the training," he said.

Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with the symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. Though, severe cases can occur.

In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around three to six percent.

Monkeypox symptoms include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion,muscle aches and backache, headache, and respiratory symptoms like sore throat, nasal congestion or cough.

Diaz said concerned agenc`ies are still making the necessary coordination for the synchronized monkeypox response of the provincial government and City Government of Bacolod.

One measure is the implementation of uniform protocols related to the viral disease, he added.

On August 23, 2022, the Department of Health in Western Visayas confirmed the fourth case of monkeypox in the country, particularly in Iloilo province.

The 25-year-old patient was working in Iloilo City with no documented travel history to or from any country with a documented confirmed case of monkeypox.

Despite having no confirmed monkeypox cases yet in Negros Occidental, the Cadiz District Hospital has already been designated as a quarantine facility for possible monkeypox disease patients in the province.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) also recently met with the health authorities from different local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, so they could come up with an agreement for a common advisory to be released against monkeypox.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang earlier said they will also identify common areas for monitoring, make manifestations with the DOH for possible training of the local health workers and will seek advice from infectious disease specialists.

Though they remain open, various ports of entry, especially the Bredco Port in Bacolod City and Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, are being closely monitored, he added.*