PRESS RELEASE
22 AUGUST 2024
CUA URGES LGUS BE PROACTIVE AGAINST MPOX
Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president and Quirino governor Dax Cua urged his fellow local leaders to take proactive steps to prevent the spread of mpox in their communities.
"I urge my fellow local leaders to be proactive in responding to the threat of mpox. We have already established public health and safety protocols during the pandemic, and now would be a good time to revisit them," Cua said.
Cua made the call after the 10th case of mpox since 2022 was detected in Quezon City this week.
Last week, the World Health Organization declared the mpox surge a public health emergency of international concern, which is its highest alert level.
41 close contacts of the most recent case have so far been put on quarantine.
"At this point, even though there is still no outbreak in the country, it is better to be prudent so that the mpox threat does not escalate. Kaya sana sundin natin ang direktiba ng Pangulo na maging mapagmatiyag, and let us work closely with our communities to ensure that they remain safe and free from illness," the governor said.
"Huwag din po tayong magkulang sa pag-raise ng awareness ng mga kababayan natin sa kung paano ba makakaiwas na mahawaan ng mpox," he added.
According to WHO, mpox is transmitted through close contact with an infected person, animal, or with contaminated materials.
"Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing), and can also include being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles)," the WHO website states.
It also noted that during the global outbreak that began in 2022, the virus mostly spread through sexual contact.
Common mpox symptoms include skin lesions, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
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