Department of Health (File photo)
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has detected one new case of mpox in the Philippines, a 33-year-old male with no travel history outside the country.
In a news release Monday, the DOH said prior to this, the last case was found in December 2023.
“DOH will make the testing process as convenient as possible, so that suspect cases may be identified fast and allowed to stay at home,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said. “Our health system is working. We can handle the situation, and will keep the public well-informed."
All previous cases were isolated, cared for, and have since recovered.
The 10th laboratory-confirmed mpox case of a man who had close, intimate contact three weeks before the onset of mpox symptoms was reported to the DOH on Aug. 18.
The symptoms started more than a week ago with fever, which was followed four days later by findings of a distinct rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, as well as palms and soles, according to the DOH.
The case was seen in a government hospital, where specimens were collected from the skin lesions and tested via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The test results came back positive for monkeypox viral DNA.
Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2 to 4 weeks, the DOH said.
The rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
Mpox can be transmitted to humans through close, intimate contact with someone infectious, with contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or with infected animals.
"We can avoid mpox. Mpox is transmitted through close, intimate contact, and also the materials used by people who have mpox. Keeping our hands clean with soap and water, or with alcohol-based sanitizers will help," Herbosa said. (PNA)
