Makati ready for monkeypox, dengue outbreak

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati government is prepared for the possible outbreaks of monkeypox and dengue cases, Mayor Abby Binay declared yesterday.

Aside from forming a task force to monitor probable monkeypox cases, Binay said the local government put in place measures to prevent the community transmission of the disease.

“Even though there is no recorded case of monkeypox in Makati, we must be prepared, informed and proactive. We should not wait for cases to spread in the city before we make a plan for isolation and treatment,” she said.

Binay said the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Makati Hospital and the health department are working on a campaign to make the people aware of the symptoms of monkeypox.

The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has trained frontliners in 26 barangay health centers to deal with suspected monkeypox cases.

Binay said the local government also implemented preventive measures against dengue as students would return to school for face-to-face classes next week.

“We have prepared anti-dengue kits to be distributed to students from kindergarten to Grade 6. Parents can pick up the kits at the school where their children are enrolled,” she said.

Each kit contains mosquito repellent lotion, a wrist band with a citronella capsule and three extra refill capsules.

City hall also mobilized a cleanup drive in 33 barangays to eradicate breeding sites of dengue mosquitoes, according to Binay.