DOH: Monkeypox not sexually transmitted infection

MANILA – An infectious disease expert on Tuesday stated that anyone is at risk of contracting the monkeypox viral disease, even if not engaged in sexual activities.

According to Dr. Rontgene Solante during the Laging Handa public briefing, despite focus on the risk groups composed of gay, bisexuals, and males having sexual interaction with the same sex, they should not be discriminated against and stigmatized.

“For one, monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted infection. It’s just that the current mode of transmission is through close intimate contact. Kapag sinabing close intimate contact, kasama na diyan iyong matagal ang pagsama sa isang room. Pangalawa, iyong puwedeng naghalikan or puwedeng nagtalik. Pero hindi siya considered as sexually transmitted infection (When we say close intimate contact, that includes being in the same room for a long time. Second, those who may have kissed or had sex. But it is not considered a sexually transmitted infection),” Solante said.

Solante said the most common mode of transmission of monkeypox is through respiratory droplets that may happen while talking to an infected person.

An individual may also contract the disease by touching the skin lesions of a person with monkeypox.

Pwede rin iyong mahawakan mo iyong mga skin lesion ‘no, especially iyong mga fresh and iyong may mga tubig-tubig na mga skin lesion. Mahawakan mo iyan at hahawak ka rin sa bibig mo or sa mata. Pwedeng papasok iyan or kung mayroon kang open wound (If you touch skin lesions, especially those that are fresh and those with watery skin lesions, if you touch them and then touch your mouth or eyes, that can enter or if you have an open wound),” Solante said.

Another mode of transmission, he stated, is through clothing or any belonging of a patient with monkeypox, such as beddings, where the virus may live and be transmitted by touching the infected object and then touching the eyes, mouth, or any open wound.

When contacting objects used by a monkeypox patient, it is essential to use gloves and wash the hands immediately.

If objects or hands are properly washed or disinfected, the virus will die.

“Once they are washed, they will also be free of the virus. Madaling matanggal ang virus with proper disinfection and then washing (The virus can be easily removed with proper disinfection and then washing),” Solante said.

He guaranteed that while monkeypox is not deadly in most cases and may heal by itself, there may be rare complications that may lead to death.

Rare complications include encephalitis or brain infection, pneumonia, particularly in immunosuppressed individuals, superimposed skin bacterial infection, and blindness.

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