The staff of the Negros Occidental molecular laboratory at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City will be trained on how to conduct Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for monkeypox, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, August 18.
This was decided during the Provincial Infectious Disease Action and Control Council (PIDACC) meeting presided by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday, he said.
The Department of Health (DOH) detected the first confirmed case of monkeypox in the country in July
Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as beddings.
Diaz said although only one monkeypox case has been reported in the country so far, the provincial government wants to be prepared.
He said there may be a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers who may have been exposed to monkeypox in South Africa so they are watching the movement of the people from that area.
Aside from the training of personnel on the conduct of RT-PCR tests for monkeypox, the provincial government will also acquire test kits, he said.
Diaz said they were informed that the gestation period of monkeypox is three weeks and those who test positive will have to be quarantined for close to three months.
They are waiting for the guidelines on how to handle those who test positive, he said.
PIDACC was formed to manage inter-agency collaboration and coordination on the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the province.
It is also tasked to formulate and tailor provincial policies and protocols on public health surveillance, prevention, and control of infectious diseases. *