THE Department of Health yesterday said two more mpox cases have been detected in the country, bringing the total to 12.
The two new cases are both male and from Metro Manila, the DOH said in a statement. One of the new cases (Case 11) is a 37-year-old who had rashes and was brought to a government hospital. Case 12, aged 32 years, had skin lesions on his body.
The newly confirmed cases, like the first one (Case 10) detected this year, have the milder Clade II variant of the virus.
“We continue to see local transmission of mpox Clade II here in the Philippines, in Metro Manila in particular,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“Two more confirmed mpox cases have been detected in Metro Manila. Both have MPXV Clade II, which is the milder form of mpox virus,” he added.
The health department said mpox Case 11 noticed symptoms starting August 20, particularly a distinct rash that began on his face, arms, legs, thorax, palms, and soles.
Initial investigation, the DOH said, showed Case 11 had no known exposure to any person with similar symptoms, but admitted to close, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact within 21 days before the start of his symptoms.
He was admitted to a government hospital on August 22. A skin sample was taken and tested at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). He remains confined at the government hospital.
Case 12 showed symptoms starting August 14, He had skin lesions (clear, fluid-filled vesicles) at his groin area, followed by fever a few days later.
The DOH said he admitted to having close, intimate and skin-to-skin contact with one sexual partner.
After initially being managed as a case of a bacterial infection, he started having pimple-like lesions on the face, forehead, and scalp, prompting him to seek consultation at a DOH hospital, where a skin sample was taken on August 23.
Case 12 has been advised home isolation while awaiting results, and has been staying at home since, said the DOH.
There are now three active mpox cases in the Philippines that are all waiting for symptoms to be resolved.
Case 10 is a 33-year-old male from Metro Manila, who became the first mpox case in the Philippines this year, and since the declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) of the disease formerly known as monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said Case 10 remains in isolation in a government hospital, and is “doing very well.” He said the patient has other illnesses.
The first nine mpox cases have long recovered. The ninth case was detected in December last year.
The WHO earlier this month made the PHEIC declaration, its highest form of alert, for the second time in two years, because of an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that had spread to neighboring countries.
A new form of the virus has triggered global concern as it seems to spread easily though routine close contact.
The disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, leads to flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. It is usually mild but can kill, with children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, all at higher risk of complications.
HEALTH ADVISORY
Herbosa reiterated the DOH’s call for the public to avoid close, intimate, skin-to-skin contact, and to wash hands with soap and water frequently.
“Anyone can get mpox. Mpox can be transmitted to humans through close, intimate contact with someone who is infectious,” he said.
Common symptoms of mpox are skin rashes or mucosal lesions, which can last from two to four weeks, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
The DOH also reminded dermatologists and other physicians to record the name and contact information of patients suspected to have mpox, and guide them to the nearest major hospital.
Being in a major hospital, the DOH explained, will allow laboratory confirmation of mpox, which is done by testing skin lesion material.
CLOSURE ORDER
The Quezon City government has ordered the closure of a fitness center in the city for refusing to cooperate in the ongoing mpox contact tracing efforts.
Case 10 is not from Quezon City but had visited a spa and a dermatology clinic there.
Ordered shut down was the Fahrenheit Cafe and Fitness Center along E. Rodriguez Sr Avenue, a statement from the Quezon City government said yesterday.
It said the fitness center was ordered to cease operation “for not allowing the city’s contact tracing team to conduct investigation and inquiries in the establishment.”
Personnel from the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division of the City Health Department went to the fitness center to initiate contact tracing measures, on the advice of the Department of Health “for possible mpox transmission.”
“We consider as threat to the health and welfare of QCitizen this kind of refusal to cooperate with our contract tracing efforts,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
“We are proactive in our response and investigation but this is being delayed due to its refusal to cooperate,” she said.
Belmonte urged business owners in the city to cooperate with the city government especially on public health concerns. — With Victor Reyes and Reuters
