FILE PHOTO: Test tubes labelled 鈥淢onkeypox virus positive鈥� are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Monkeypox is not like COVID-19 that spreads mostly through air, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public Friday.
DOH鈥檚 Dr. Beverly Ho said this as the Philippines recorded its first case of monkeypox鈥攁 31-year-old Filipino who had prior travel to countries with documented monkeypox cases.
鈥淢onkeypox is caused by a different microorganism; it鈥檚 different from COVID-19,鈥� Ho said.
鈥淚nvestigation of recent monkeypox cases in other non-endemic countries indicate potential transmission through sexual contact. It spreads mostly by intimate sexual contact with those who have rashes or open lesions,鈥� she added.
Ho said monkeypox is 鈥渘ot like COVID-19 that spreads mostly through [the] air.鈥�
鈥淲e minimize close sexual contact with suspected cases, especially those with rashes or open wounds,鈥� Ho said.
鈥淜eep our hands clean, wear a face mask, cover cough using our elbow and continue to choose areas with good ventilation or airflow,鈥� she added.
Aside from sexual contact, monkeypox can also be spread through 鈥渄irect contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids,鈥� according to the Centers for Disease Control.
It can also spread by 鈥渢ouching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids.鈥�
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