KORONADAL: Health authorities in the Soccsksargen Region have alerted the public to the possibility of mpox infections in two individuals exhibiting symptoms of the disease. 'We have activated the surveillance unit and identified their close contacts, who are now under quarantine,' Dr. Dyan Zubelle Parayao, chief of the Department of Health-12 (Soccsksargen) Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), said in a radio interview on Tuesday. DOH-12 is closely monitoring the patients and gathering data on their travel history to trace potential sources of the virus, Parayao added. During a 'Kapihan with the Media' session on Monday, Parayao revealed the suspected mpox cases but declined to disclose the patients' identities or their locations to prevent public humiliation and discrimination. 'Health front-liners are closely monitoring them after being informed of the health situation,' she said. As of this posting, RESU is still awaiting confirmation from laboratory tests at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to determine if the patients' symptoms are consistent with monkeypox. The global mpox situation has been classified as a 'public health emergency of international concern.' This year, about a dozen African countries have reported mpox outbreaks, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for over 90 percent of the cases. Parayao explained that mpox is a viral disease that spreads through close contact and contaminated materials such as sheets, clothing, and needles. 'We strongly recommend physical distancing and regular handwashing. If symptoms like fever, rashes, lumps, headaches, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes appear, they must be reported to local health units,' she advised. She also emphasized the importance of wearing face masks, especially in crowded places. Soccsksargen comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, as well as the cities of Gen. Santos, Kidapawan, Koronadal, and Tacurong. Source: Philippines News Age ncy