DOH: 1st mpox case this year recorded

Days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, a case of the viral disease was detected in the country on Sunday, the first for this year and 10th since 2022.

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"The (new) case was detected last Aug. 18. This is a 33-year-old male, Filipino, from the National Capital Region, and has no travel history from Africa or any other country. This means he had close and intimate contact before symptoms started coming out more than a week ago,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said at a briefing yesterday.

The mpox outbreak in Africa prompted the WHO to declare mpox a global health concern last Wednesday.

In the Philippines, the nine previous cases recovered after being isolated and treated.

Herbosa noted that mpox symptoms include distinct rashes in the face, nape, chest, body, at the back, abdomen, groin, palms and soles of the feet.

“The rashes can last up to two to four weeks. It is accompanied by fever, headache, muscle pain, low energy, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes (kulani). Anyone can get mpox. Its transmission is through intimate or close contact so anyone who is infectious can contaminate (others),” the health chief explained.