PH detects 2 more mpox cases, both in NCR

Two additional mpox cases have been detected in the Philippines, bringing the total cases to 12, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. 

The DOH said the 11th case was a 37-year-old male from the National Capital Region (NCR) who noticed symptoms starting August 20, specifically a distinct rash on his face, arms, legs, thorax, palms, and soles.

Based on initial investigation, the case 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, where a skin sample was taken from him and then tested at the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). The patient remains confined at the hospital, the DOH said.

The 12th case, on the other hand, was a 32-year-old male also from NCR with symptoms that started last August 14. He noticed skin lesions or clear, fluid-filled vesicles at his groin area. A few days later, his fever started. 

The case also admitted to close, intimate and skin-to-skin contact with one sexual partner.

According to the DOH, the case initially sought consultation at an outpatient clinic where he was thought of having a bacterial infection. However, after a few days, he started having pimple-like lesions on the face, forehead, and scalp. 

The patient was then advised to seek consultation at a DOH hospital where a skin sample was taken on August 23. He has been in home isolation since then.

Amid the detection of two new cases, the DOH assured the public that the latest patients were also infected with MPXV Clade II, which is a milder form of the mpox virus.

Of the 12 total cases, nine have long recovered since 2023 while the remaining three “are active cases waiting for symptoms to resolve.”

Case in Northern Samar?

The DOH, meanwhile, did not categorically confirm nor deny the circulating post about a suspected mpox case in Northern Samar.

The agency, however, released a statement saying that there are many skin diseases that may be confused with mpox, such as chickenpox, shingles, or herpes. 

The DOH also pointed out that it is its policy to disclose detection of PCR-positive mpox cases “as soon as verification is complete.”

Furthermore, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said they cannot determine yet any epidemiologic linkages of the two new cases with the 10th case, which was also detected this month. 

The 10th case was a 33-year-old male Filipino national with no travel history outside the Philippines “but with close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset.”

Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2–4 weeks. The rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. 

The DOH said that anyone can get mpox, and the virus can be transmitted to humans through close and intimate contact with someone who is infectious, through contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or through infected animals. 

The public were thus advised to use soap and water to kill the virus, and to use gloves when washing contaminated materials. 

The DOH last Thursday said that it already signified intent from the World Health Organization (WHO) to get access to smallpox vaccines to help protect against the mpox virus. 

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier said that the Philippines is in the process of securing 2,000 doses of mpox vaccines that have been offered to the country. 

READ: What is mpox? Everything you need to know about the virus that is now global concern —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News