WHILE there are no mpox (Monkeypox) cases recorded in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Health (DOH) has intensified its preparedness against its potential threat.
The DOH-Northern Mindanao continues to coordinate with health facilities and local government units to raise awareness and prepare the region for any potential mpox cases.
The City Health Office in Cagayan de Oro has included mpox awareness and prevention measures in their community information dissemination activities.
It also issued an internal memorandum mandating the wearing of face masks and adhering to the minimum public health standards within the city public health facilities.
City Health Officer Rachel Dilla also advised the public to observe regular handwashing to decrease the likelihood of mpox infection.
Meanwhile, Dr. Wellaflor Kindom-Brito, head of the DOH Northern Mindanao Infectious and Communicable Diseases Cluster, said no mpox testing facility exists in the region.
No vaccine has also been approved or authorized by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against mpox.
Brito said suspected samples are sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for testing and confirmation.
For people who die from mpox, health rules require marking the body with a yellow tag and burying or cremating it within 12 hours without using embalming, to prevent the disease from spreading. (Jo Ann Sablad)