WITH the present threat of monkeypox disease, Negros Occidental Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang said Friday, August 5, 2022, that is necessary to reactivate the province’s Infectious Disease and Control Committee.

Tumimbang said that the committee focuses on the immerging and reemerging diseases and is headed by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

He said that since the monkeypox disease is already in the country, hospitals in the province and the local government units must prepare.

“But right now, we focus on advocacy, monitoring and surveillance as the meat of our preparation,” Tumimbang stressed.

The doctor said the monitoring and surveillance should cover international, national and local while recommending protocols should be cascaded up to the barangay level.

By next week, the committee, with the approval of the governor, might be making recommendations on logistic preparations against the monkeypox disease.

Meanwhile, there is no surge in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the province despite the new infections hitting two-digits.

“We need to look into the bed utilization rate of Covid-19 (and) if it is high then that means, the majority of those who have the disease experience severe symptoms,” Tumimbang explained.

Currently, the active cases are under home quarantine as they are not experiencing severe symptoms.