Latest news with #DepartmentofHealth
Filipino Times
5 hours ago
- Health
- Filipino Times
DOH: Recent mpox cases in PH still from mild, self-limiting variant
All recently reported mpox cases in the country were caused by a milder strain of the virus, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified. 'There are LGUs reporting mpox, but I have to declare, all of them are mpox clade II,' said Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, referring to the same variant that caused confirmed cases in 2023 and 2024. He described this strain as 'very mild and self-limiting.' Clade II differs from the more infectious clade Ib, which was responsible for the mpox surge in parts of Africa and was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization last year. Given the current situation, Herbosa said there will be no new nationwide restrictions. 'We have an mpox task force. We are having surveillance,' he said, assuring the public that authorities are closely monitoring cases to prevent the entry of the more severe clade Ib. In recent weeks, mpox cases have been reported in parts of southern Philippines, particularly in Davao del Sur and Compostela in Davao de Oro, prompting local governments to enforce health measures such as mask-wearing and physical distancing. Davao City, however, denied online rumors of any community lockdown following an increase in confirmed mpox cases, which have now reached six. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease that spreads primarily through close physical contact, including sexual contact, and is not airborne. 'It's very important to isolate, and once recovered, hopefully, there will be no complications,' Herbosa said. The Philippines recorded 52 mpox cases in 2024, including one death, which the DOH said may have been due to complications from the disease.
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH: More mpox cases in April 2025 than in May; total cases 911 since 2024
More cases of monkeypox (mpox) were detected in April 2025 as compared to May, and the total cases have so far reached 911 since 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday. "Simula 2024, nasa 911 na ang kaso... Pero hindi 'yun ang binabantayan ng DOH. Ang tinitignan natin ay per month basis. Ang na-detect natin ay less than 50 cases nu'ng May. Nu'ng April, lagpas 50," DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (Starting 2024, the cases reached 911... But that is not what DOH is focusing on. We are looking at the per month basis. We detected less than 50 cases in May. In April, it was more than 50.) "Tinitignan namin ang epidemic curve. Hindi kami tumitingin sa total. Kapag tumingin kasi sa total, ang impression parang dami-dami nang kaso," he added. (We are looking at the epidemic curve. We are not focusing on the total. When you look at the total [number of cases], the impression is that there are too many cases.) "Tila nagkakaroon ng pananaw na may surge ng mpox kasi sunod-sunod na lumalabas... Pero nu'ng tinignan namin sa epidemic curve, mas marami pa nu'ng Abril kumpara ngayong Mayo," Domingo said. (There seems to have been the notion that there was a surge in mpox because reports came out one after the other... But when we looked at the epidemic curve, there were more cases in April compared to May.) Domingo said in September 2024, there were around 200 mpox cases but this number includes the suspected and probable ones. "Out of mahigit 200, less than 10 or 20 lang ang nag-positive na confirmed (Out of the more than 200, less than 10 or 20 only turned out positive and confirmed.) The DOH official said cases first reported as mpox were later verified to be not mpox but chickenpox. "Minsan kasi kahit suspected pa lang, nire-report na [na kaso ng mpox]," Domingo said. (Sometimes even if the case is still just suspected, it is reported [as mpox].) Domingo also reiterated that only the mild variant of mpox, Clade II, is the one detected in the country. The more transmissible Clade 1b has not yet been detected in the Philippines. "Hindi natin kailangang mabahala dahil 'yung clade o variant [ng mpox] dito sa Pilipinas, wala pa tayong nakikitang Clade 1B. Ang mayroon tayo ay 'Yung Clade II," he said. (We do not need to be alarmed because the clade or variant in the Philippines is Clade II. We don't have Clade 1B yet.) DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa on Friday allayed the fears of the public as the mpox cases being monitored in the country are of Clade II variant, the mild variant of the said disease. The DOH chief added that some of the fatalities it recorded did not die of mpox, but due to complications brought about by advanced human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. "Mas nababahala si Sec. Herbosa sa maraming kaso ng HIV. Every day, umaabot tayo ng 56 to 57 news cases ng HIV per day," Domingo said. (Sec. Herbosa is more concerned about the many HIV cases. Every day there are 56 to 57 new cases of HIV.) "Ang mpox ay self-resolving disease. Virus siya at kusang gumagaling sa loob ng 2 to 3 weeks... 'Yung mga vulnerable, 'yung mga pumanaw, usually hindi mpox ang dahilan kundi advanced HIV. Nagkataon na mayroon din silang mpox," he added. (Mpox is a self-resolvind disease. It is caused by a virus and one gets well in 2 to 3 weeks... Those who are vulnerable, who died, usually mpox did not cause the death but advanced HIV did. It just so happened that they also had mpox.) Domingo also said that since mpox is not an airborne disease, wearing a face mask cannot prevent the transmission of the virus. "May ilang LGUs na nagpa-mandatory facemask. Wala namang mali sa pagsusuot ng facemask... Pero ang mpox ay hindi airborne kundi close contact. Balat sa balat... Depende sa mode of transmission ang dapat na ginagawa na precaution," he said. (Some LGUs made face mask-wearing mandatory. There is nothing wrong with wearing a face mask. But mpox is not airborne but spread through close contact. Skin to skin. Precautions should be implemented based on mode of transmission.) Domingo said local government units may coordinate with the DOH to check what precautions are needed to prevent transmission of diseases. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Irish Examiner
14 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Ireland facing dentist shortage as training places stagnate for nearly 30 years
The number of college training places for dentists has remained the same for almost three decades despite a major recruitment crisis and severe backlogs in parts of the country. That is according to Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Colm Burke, who has called for increased college places. Each year, there is huge interest in studying dentistry, with college course entry determined by exceptionally high CAO points. However, despite major increases in the population, the number of dental school places has failed to increase significantly. International students from outside of the EU also make up a high percentage of those studying dentistry here. In the Dáil, Mr Burke said there were 1,432 dentists offering to provide dental care under the public scheme in 2012. By 2024, this had fallen to 810. "Going back 30 or 40 years, most older people tended to have dentures. That has now totally changed so there are now more older people who require dental treatment as well." The Department of Health has acknowledged that there are 2,420 dentists in the country, Mr Burke said. "That is 47 dentists per 100,000 people or one dentist per 2,125 people." 'We need to forward plan,' he added. Even if, in the morning, we decided to increase the number of places, it would still take five years before the students would be out there. In University College Cork, there are currently 61 final year students of which 36 are non-EU students, he said. At Trinity College Dublin, there are 46 final year students, of which 21 are non-EU students. He added: "We need to decrease the number of non-EU students and increase the number of Irish and other EU students. 'We do not have to put extra money into it, except to replace the money the colleges are getting from non-EU students with money from the department so we can improve and increase the number of training places available.' The Irish Dental Association has suggested to decrease the number of non-EU students to 20%, he added. 'It did not say to cut them out completely, but to reduce the number. 'We were to build a new dental school in Cork, we had identified a site, we got the planning permission, funding was not available, and the whole project was abandoned. "Now we are in a scenario where we have population growth, people are living longer, and we do not have the dentists to look after them.' In response, minister of State Marian Harkin said approximately 60 places were available each year to students on dentistry courses until this year. "The department recognises that this represents a limited training pipeline at a time when the demand for oral healthcare, both clinical and preventative, is increasing nationally." The number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, she added. However, due to a high level of practical work, there can be constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses, she said. The Department of Health is conducting a scoping exercise to support a skills assessment across the oral healthcare sector.
TECHx
19 hours ago
- Health
- TECHx
Abu Dhabi Boosts Healthcare Cybersecurity Readiness
Home » Emerging technologies » Cyber Security » Abu Dhabi Boosts Healthcare Cybersecurity Readiness The Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DoH), in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council, announced the successful completion of a comprehensive cybersecurity drill. The initiative aimed to strengthen cyber resilience in the UAE healthcare sector. The exercise was held at Bab Al Bahr Hotel in Abu Dhabi and brought together participants from various DoH-affiliated entities. The drill featured simulated cyberattack scenarios. It tested the readiness of healthcare institutions to respond to digital threats. Officials reported that the exercise evaluated the robustness of communication protocols and incident response mechanisms. It also demonstrated the importance of safeguarding patient data and securing medical services during cyber incidents. Moreover, the exercise revealed best practices in cybersecurity behaviours and digital infrastructure protection. The goal was to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services, even during cyber threats. Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, praised DoH's efforts. He reported that the Council is fully committed to supporting government entities with advanced training and digital safety tools. He highlighted that empowering professionals with cybersecurity skills is vital for protecting sensitive data and treatment files. According to the Council, cybersecurity is a national priority. It emphasized the need for a secure digital infrastructure across all sectors, including healthcare, education, and energy. The Council also reported ongoing efforts to promote digital resilience through technical guidance, advisory support, and specialized training. DoH showcased its Medical Command Operations Centre during the drill. The demonstration highlighted key protocols for protecting patient data and maintaining service continuity. Officials noted that the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi was the first health regulator in the UAE and the region to launch a tailored cybersecurity strategy for the healthcare sector. This strategy serves as a holistic framework for digital safety. It outlines core principles for proactively addressing cyber threats and deploying structured response systems. The initiative reflects the UAE leadership's forward-thinking approach to navigating digital transformation challenges. Key highlights of the cybersecurity drill included: Simulation of cyberattack scenarios and response evaluation Presentation of digital healthcare services and data protection protocols This effort reinforces the commitment of both DoH and the UAE Cyber Security Council to secure national health infrastructure and build long-term cyber resilience in healthcare.
Eyewitness News
21 hours ago
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, NCAS calls for tighter restrictions on accessibility of nicotine products
CAPE TOWN - Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, the Department of Health is calling on South Africans to consider becoming an organ donor. The latest statistics from the National Council Against Smoking show that 25,000 South Africans die from tobacco-related diseases every year. And non-smokers aren't spared risk - they're at risk of developing smoking-related illnesses by being around those who do smoke. Spokesperson for the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS), Ingrid Bame, said that there should be tighter restrictions on the accessibility of nicotine products. "We should also remember that tobacco products contain nicotine, which is the addictive chemical in the product which leaves users dependent and addicted to their preferred tobacco product. Due to the addictive cycle of chasing the dopamine effects, smokers are prone to mood swings, increased anxiety and depression and an overall life that displays something that is unhealthy." Bame added that the advertising of nicotine products at grocery checkout counters should be banned. "We also see people who smoke be less fertile than those who don't smoke and with women that smoke, they stand a higher chance of complications during pregnancy, which includes low birth rate and miscarriages."
