MANILA, July 31 (Philippines Daily Inquirer/ANN): A Filipino has been infected with monkeypox in Singapore, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday.
"There is one reported case of a Filipino male in Singapore who has been infected with monkeypox. (The Philippine Embassy in) Singapore is monitoring the case," Ma. Teresita Daza, DFA spokesperson, said Saturday night.
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) in a monkeypox local situation report, the said case was a 31-year old Filipino, who tested positive for the monkeypox virus on July 25.
It said that the patient first developed a fever on July 21, before developing rashes on his face and body.
“He sought medical care at SGH (Singapore General Hospital) on 24 July and was admitted on the same day. Contact tracing is ongoing,” said Singapore MOH.
The MOH then assured that the patient’s condition is now stable.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public that monkeypox is not like Covid-19 that spreads mostly through air.
DOH’s Dr. Beverly Ho said this as the Philippines recorded its first case of monkeypox—a 31-year-old Filipino who had prior travel to countries with documented monkeypox cases.
“Monkeypox is caused by a different microorganism; it’s different from Covid-19,” Ho said.
“Investigation of recent monkeypox cases in other non-endemic countries indicate potential transmission through sexual contact. It spreads mostly by intimate sexual contact with those who have rashes or open lesions,” she added.
Ho said monkeypox is “not like Covid-19 that spreads mostly through [the] air.”
“We minimize close sexual contact with suspected cases, especially those with rashes or open wounds,” Ho said.
“Keep our hands clean, wear a face mask, cover cough using our elbow and continue to choose areas with good ventilation or airflow,” she added. - Philippines Daily Inquirer/ANN
