No need to close borders despite detection of monkeypox in Philippines — Vergeire

There is no need to close the country's borders after a monkeypox case was reported in the Philippines, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday.

"Wala pa so katulad ng direksyon ng current administration, gusto natin na pumupunta na tayo sa phase na tayo po'y nakakabalik na sa ating trabaho, eskwelahan and also itong pagsasara ng borders ay hindi pa kailangan," Vergeire told reporters in Pasig City.

(Just like the direction of our present administration, we want to go to the phase where we can already go back to our work and in schools. Closing borders is not necessary.)

"Unang-una kahit WHO (World Health Organization), ang risk ng monkeypox is just low to moderate, hindi kailangang magsara ng borders, hindi kailangang tumigil ng trade... dire-deretso lang kaya lang kailangan talaga mayroon tayong preventive measures in place," she added.

(Even WHO classified the risk of monkeypox as low to moderate, there is no need to close borders, no need for our trade to discontinue... It's just that we have to have preventive measures in place.)

Earlier, Vergeire said about 95% of monkeypox cases around the world are transmitted through sexual activities. But, she clarified that the monkeypox virus is not considered as a sexually transmitted disease.

The WHO said that monkeypox can spread “during close skin-to-skin contact during sex, including kissing, touching, oral and penetrative sex with someone who has symptoms.”

Last week, the DOH said the Philippines has already recorded its first case of monkeypox in a 31-year-old patient who arrived from abroad on July 19. He tested positive for the virus on Thursday, July 28.

The agency said the patient is already recovering. — RSJ, GMA News