THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said the suspected case of mpox in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was found to be negative for the infectious disease.
In a televised public briefing, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said they have received confirmation that the suspected case in Lanao Del Sur tested negative.
“We just received information this morning, the good news is the suspected mpox case in BARMM is negative,” said Herbosa.
“It’s not mpox, so this case in the BARMM is more likely another viral illness or skin disease,” he added.
Over the weekend, the DOH said they have received information about the first suspected mpox case in the BARMM.
The DOH said it would wait for the test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) before a conclusion is reached.
The health chief said the country has recorded over 50 mpox cases.
Herbosa, however, stressed that all mpox cases recorded in the country are the milder Clade II variants.
“As of now, there has been no Clade Ib variant that has reached the Philippines,” said Herbosa.
Last August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) amid the surge in cases in Africa.
