New case of mpox detected – DoH

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(UPDATES) THE Department of Health (DoH) said on Monday that it had detected one new case of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, in the Philippines.

The 10th laboratory-confirmed mpox case was reported on August 18, the department said.

“The case is a 33-year-old male Filipino national with no travel history outside the Philippines but with close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset,” it said.

The patient’s 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. He was seen in a government hospital, where specimens were collected from the skin lesions and run through a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, the results of which were positive for mpox viral DNA.

The patient is in isolation.

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“The recommended period of isolation is three weeks. That’s 21 days until the lesions on the skin dry up,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said.

The last case of mpox in the Philippines was recorded in December 2023, and all previous cases were isolated, cared for, and have since recovered.

Mpox was recently declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The DoH reminded the public to watch out for common symptoms of the disease — skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks, and fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

Warning that “anyone can get mpox,” Herbosa said that it could be transmitted to humans through close, intimate contact with someone infectious, with contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or with infected animals.

“Soap and water can kill the virus. When washing contaminated materials, use gloves,” the health chief said.

Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR. Dermatologists and other physicians who suspect its presence are reminded to record the name and contact information of their patients and guide them to the nearest major hospital. There, complete case data and specimens for confirmation can be collected.

The list of hospitals includes the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center and UP-Philippine General Hospital.