Mpox cases this year rose to 18, vaccines not needed for control —Herbosa

A total of 18 individuals have now tested positive for the monkeypox (mpox) virus since August 2024—five of which have already recovered and were released from isolation, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. 

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said that three new cases—all of whom are male—came from Calabarzon and Metro Manila. This brought the total number of mpox cases in the country since July 2022 to 27—-thirteen of which remain active. 

“Ang maganda rin, lahat ng 18 na na-pick up namin as of now, wala pang nahahawang iba. So very good, wala silang tinatawag na epidemiological link. Ibig sabihin no’n kapag na-isolate namin sila, humihinto ‘yung pag-transmit ng sakit,” he said in a press conference. 

(The good thing is, all the 18 cases that we have picked up as of now, have not infected anyone. They don’t have an epidemiological link. This means that when we isolate them, the transmission of the disease stops.) 

Herbosa, however, said that vaccines are not necessary in fighting the uptick of mpox cases in the Philippines, stressing that “cleanliness” is what is important. 

So far, the Philippines is set to receive 2,500 doses of mpox vaccines in the next few months. The DOH chief believes that mpox cases in the country can still be controlled pending the arrival of these vaccine doses. 

“Nakikita ninyo, napakadaling i-control ng mpox. I don't need a vaccine to control it. ‘Yung good public health, ‘yung tinatawag nating prevention, detection, isolation, nape-prevent ‘yung pagkalat niya,” Herbosa said. 

(As you can see, mpox is very easy to control. I don't need a vaccine to control it. What we only need is good public health—the prevention, detection, and isolation of mpox cases can prevent its spread.) 

“In fact ‘yung bakuna na ito, makakatulong lang ito sa mga taong high risk mamatay. Ito, ibibigay mo lang sa mga taong may HIV or may ibang concomitant illness,” he added. 

(In fact, this vaccine will only help people who are at high risk of dying. We will only give this to people with HIV or with other concomitant illnesses.) 

The mpox 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 has been advised to use soap and water to kill the virus, and to use gloves when washing contaminated materials. 

Symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks. The rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.—AOL, GMA Integrated News