Senate inquiry sought into PH's preparedness on monkeypox

Senators Bong Go and Robin Padilla are seeking an investigation into the country's preparedness in containing and preventing the spread of monkeypox in the Philippines.

Senators Bong Go and Robin Padilla filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the preparedness of the country to contain and suppress monkeypox. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/syz1zWoY2a

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) August 1, 2022

The two administration lawmakers filed Senate Resolution 85 on Monday directing the Committee on Health and Demography to conduct the investigation with the end in view of "preventing the overburdening of the healthcare system."

Go is the chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography.

"There is a pressing need to evaluate the government's preparedness to effectively suppress the spread of monkeypox in the country considering that the country is still trying to recover from the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," the resolution said.

"It is the duty of Congress to formulate institutional policies and measures to address public health emergencies," the senators added.

Last Friday, the Philippines reported the first confirmed monkeypox case.

On July 23, the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak to be a global health emergency.

The Department of Health said monkeypox is a virus transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or contaminated materials.

A viral infection resembling smallpox and first detected in humans in 1970, monkeypox is less dangerous and contagious than smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980.

The first symptoms can include a fever, headaches, sharp muscle pains, fatigue, a rash, as well as swollen and painful lymph nodes, according to an Agence France-Presse explainer.—LDF, GMA News