MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has detected two more cases of mpox (formerly monkeypox), one in Metro Manila and another in Calabarzon.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Health department said that the detection has brought the total mpox caseload to 14 since July 2022, five of which remain active.
The DOH said that the 13th case is a 26-year-old female from National Capital Region (NCR), who started showing symptoms on August 20, including rashes on her face and back accompanied by fever.
The 14th case is a 12-year-old male from Calabarzon who had symptoms since August 10. He initially had a fever and eventually 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.
“Initial investigation is consistent with earlier findings of local transmission of clade II. Details are being verified as to how close and intimate, skin-to-skin contact may have taken place,” the DOH said.
Mpox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. A zoonotic disease, it is transmitted to humans from animals.
Mpox was first recorded among monkeys in 1958 and the first transmission of the virus to humans was recorded in 1970.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said among the symptoms of mpox are skin rash or mucosal lesions, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
WHO recently declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries./PN
