By Alec Go
An infectious disease expert reiterated that viral disease monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted infection despite close intimate contact being one of the modes of its transmission.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, member of the Department of Health’s Technical Advisory Group, said “anybody is at risk” of getting infected, especially individuals who have contact with known cases.
“Monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted infection. It’s just that the current mode of transmission is through close intimate contact,” he said, while noting that current infections also include a risk group of “men who have sex with men.”
“We don’t want to stigmatize this population or discriminate them… Ang problema riyan, kapag na-stigmatize mo ‘yan, ang mangyayari hindi magpapakonsulta or natatakot nang magpakonsulta,” he explained.
The disease is also spread through respiratory droplets and contact with lesions as well as with the clothes and beddings of an infected person. The World Health Organization said it can also be transmitted via a mother’s placenta to the fetus.
Solante advised those handling clothes and other belongings of an infected person to wear gloves and practice proper handwashing, to keep the materials away from other individuals, and to coordinate with and inform sanitation services.
Although the virus lingers in an infected person’s clothes and beddings, he said the virus is not transmitted through fitting clothes in shopping stores, and that the virus can be easily removed through proper disinfection.
Due to the limited availability of vaccines for monkeypox, the priority population recipients only include those exposed as post-exposure prophylaxis, high-risk groups or those with multiple contacts, and healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, Solante said there is no need to create a task force for monkeypox as there are already guidelines on how to respond to the disease.
He added that closing borders “is not an option at this point in time with only one case.” – gb
