By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday, August 19, 2024, that a new mpox case, formerly known as monkeypox, has been confirmed in the Philippines.
“The 10th laboratory-confirmed mpox case was reported to the DOH on August 18, 2024,” the department stated.
The patient is a 33-year-old Filipino male with no recent travel history outside the Philippines but had close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset, according to the DOH.
The DOH noted that the patient’s symptoms began over a week ago with a fever, followed by a distinct rash that appeared four days later. The rash spread across the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, and even the palms and soles.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The last mpox case in the country was recorded in December 2023. All previous cases were isolated, treated, and have since fully recovered.
Mpox symptoms typically include a skin rash or mucosal lesions that can last 2–4 weeks. These are often accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes, the DOH explained.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized that mpox is primarily transmitted through close, intimate contact and the use of items that have been in contact with an infected person.
“We can avoid mpox. It spreads through close, intimate contact and through materials used by people who have it. Regular handwashing with soap and water, or using alcohol-based sanitizers, can help prevent its spread. The DOH is also working to make testing as convenient as possible so that suspected cases can be quickly identified and managed,” Herbosa said.
“Our health system is functioning well. We can handle the situation and will keep the public well-informed,” he added.
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