With the World Health Organization declaring monkeypox a health crisis, you may be feeling concerned about this rare disease, especially as case numbers tick upward here in our country.  To understand more about the virus, a free webinar presented by PhilCare, PhilLife, Comm&Sense, Inc., and Stitch Tech Solutions was recently held and gave information about monkeypox from a certified Infectious Disease Expert, Dr. Christopher John Tibayan MD, FPCP, DPSMID.

The number of monkeypox cases in the Philippines has now reached four, yet information about the virus remains largely unclear to many Filipinos. The help of this webinar shed light on this health threat, including how to prevent and treat it.

Must know facts on Monkeypox (Summary from the webinar)

It is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as the variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal.

The monkeypox virus is spread mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox but can also be spread through touching items (such as clothing, linens, or surfaces) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids. It’s also possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters appearing on the face, inside the mouth, or on other parts of the body.

Unfortunately, there is no established antiviral treatment yet for this virus. Basically, fever and pain management are addressed via analgesic and paracetamol. Patients also need to be monitored regarding the state of their skin, eye, mouth, and other respiratory organs.

How Can we prevent Monkeypox?

Avoid close contact with anyone who has symptoms and make sure you wash your hands often. 

The Importance of PhilCare’s Prepaid Plans

After two years of COVID-19, we face a new medical issue that the World Health Organization has declared “a public health emergency of international concern.” With this, health care plans are very important. Good thing that PhilCare understands that healthcare goes a long way that is why it came up with health plans designed to cover the needs of every Filipino.

We can now choose from PhilCare’s affordable prepaid health plans that are suited for you and your family’s needs.

For as low as P800, we can now avail PhilCare Prepaid plan. ER Shield is one of my recommendations which is a single-use health plan that provides coverage for outpatient emergency care for viral and bacterial illnesses and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ designated PhilCare-accredited hospitals.

You can check PhilCare’s extensive prepaid plans here: https://philcare.com.ph/services

With Philcare Prepaid plans, you’re able to gain peace of mind and security knowing that you and your family are protected from unexpected medical expenses. If you wish to avail yourself, you can do it online too. Check it out here.

Over the years, PhilCare believes that health is not only the absence of illnesses but a state of overall wellness. PhilCare enters its 40th year as the country’s revolutionary leader in the HMO industry and reiterates its commitment to continue bringing smarter affordable healthcare to more Filipino. To know more about PhilCare, visit their website.