Active mpox cases now 5: DOH

Department of Health (DOH) (File Photo: Department of Health (Philippines)/Facebook)

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded two more cases of mpox (formerly monkeypox) –one each in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Calabarzon – bringing the total active cases to five.

In a news release, the DOH said both cases have the milder MPXV clade II, consistent with earlier findings of local transmission of the variant. Details on the intimacy of the skin-to-skin contact is still being verified.

To date, the country has logged a total of 14 cases since July 14, 2022.

Nine cases have long recovered since 2023 while five are active cases with symptoms being treated.

Mpox case 13 is a 26-year-old female from NCR whose symptoms started Aug. 20.

“She noticed rashes on her face and back accompanied by fever. One day later, she consulted at an outpatient clinic, which advised her to undergo home isolation,” the DOH said.

“On August 23, she followed-up by phone call, describing additional rashes in her pubic area, arms, and trunk. She also developed sore throat and swollen neck lymph nodes,” it added.

She did not travel anytime three weeks before her symptoms started and even when she had symptoms.

Two close contacts have been identified and notified. They do not have symptoms.

She continues to recover at home, under close monitoring by local health authorities.

Mpox case 14 is a 12-year-old male from Calabarzon whose symptoms started with fever on Aug. 10.

“He also developed rashes mainly on the face, legs, trunk and pubic area extending to other parts of the body. He also had cough and swollen lymph nodes at the groin area,” the DOH said.

“Case 14 consulted at a rural health unit. A skin sample was collected on August 23. He has no history of travel anytime three weeks before the start of symptoms,” it added.

He also continues to recover at home, under close monitoring by local health authorities.

The DOH said local government units where cases 13 and 14 are from have the power and authority by law to disclose more detailed information including response actions, at their discretion.

Common symptoms of mpox are skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks.

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 who is infectious, with contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or with infected animals.

Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by Polymerase Chain Reaction test.

Current turnaround time at the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is two to three days for testing.

Mpox is treated with supportive care. Patients with no other illnesses may stay at home after testing, until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms after two to four weeks.