1997
Brian W.J. Mahy, BSc, MA, PhD, ScD, DSc
This image was created during a investigation into an outbreak of monkeypox, which took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 1996 to 1997, formerly Zaire, and depicts the palms of a monkeypox case patient from Lodja, a city located within the Katako-Kombe Health Zone, of the DRC. Note how similar this maculopapular rash appears to be when compared to the rash of smallpox, also a Orthopoxvirus.
In 1996, 71 suspected human monkeypox cases were reported from the Katako-Kombe Health Zone, Kasai Oriental, DRC. These initial reports suggested predominant person-to-person transmission and prolonged chains of transmission. Two cases were confirmed by monkeypox virus isolation from lesion material. In February 1997, an investigation was initiated. Our report describes epidemiologic observations and laboratory results supporting the conclusion that repeated animal reintroduction of monkeypox virus is needed to sustain the disease in the local human population. For more extensive details, as well as citations, see the link below.
PHIL images 12745 through 12784 depict a full slide presentation telling the story of this investigation.
Tuloy pa rin ang mahigpit na pagbabantay at monitoring ng mga Health Officials para sa pinaghahandaang posibleng pagpasok ng nakahahawang monkeypox sa Pilipinas.
Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Health Undersecretary Abdullay Dumama Jr. na nagpatupad ng ‘four-door strategy’ ang gobyerno para mahigpit na ma-screen ang mga lalabas at papasok ng ating bansa.
Sa ilalim nito, pag-aaralan ang posibilidad ng implementasyon ng mga travel restrictions at bans sa mga lugar na mayroon nang naitalang outbreak ng monkeypox.
Kagaya ng mga protokol para sa COVID-19, titiyakin din ang mahigpit na screening sa mga paliparan, mas maigting na testing, at posibleng quarantine sa mga ito. #
