TWO more mpox cases have been detected in the Philippines, bringing the total to 14 including five active cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.
The two new cases are a 26-year-old female from the National Capital Region and a 12-year-old male from the Calabarzon region. They were both confirmed for the milder variant MPXV Clade II and are recovering at home.
“Initial investigation is consistent with earlier findings of local transmission of Clade II,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
According to the DOH, Case 13 started showing symptoms on August 20 when rashes appeared on her face and back, accompanied by fever. During home isolation, she had additional rashes in the arms, trunk, and pubic area. She developed sore throat and swollen neck lymph nodes on August 23.
The DOH said the patient had no travel history three weeks before she showed symptoms.
Case 13 continues to recover at home, and is under close and continuing monitoring by local health authorities. Her two close contacts have been identified and notified, and have yet to develop any symptom, the DOH said.
Case 14 developed fever and rashes mainly on the face, legs, trunk, and pubic area on August 10. He consulted a rural health unit. A skin sample was taken on August 23.
The boy has no history of travel three weeks before the start of symptoms. He continues to recover at home, and is under close and continuing monitoring by local health authorities, the DOH said.
The 14 total mpox cases have been detected since July 2022. Nine have long recovered while five are active cases waiting for their respective symptoms to resolve.
Herbosa said the detection of more cases will help the country prepare for a stronger variant of the virus.
“It strengthens our health system. We can find, test, and treat mpox. We will be ready should MPXV Clade Ib gets here,” he said.
the MPXV Clade Ib is a new strain of mpox virus that is responsible for the current outbreak which has prompted the declaration by the World Health Organization of a public health emergency of international concern.
