A 24-year-old man in the Province of Northern Samar suspected of contracting monkeypox is under a confirmatory test on August 27, 2024.

According to the Department of Health Eastern Visayas, the man was admitted at a hospital in Northern Samar on August 24, 2024 for dengue fever.

The man had a fever on August 8, 2024 and sustained skin rashes, cough, and colds.

The patient sought medical consultation on August 17, 2024 because of his intermittent fever, presence of rashes, cough and colds.

The patient has no travel history outside of the country.

“Until on August 24 he had facial edema, nose bleeding and then still facial rash, so ginawa dengue duo test po, so it turned out na positive po for IgG and IgM so that was the reason he was admitted sa health facility. Upon physical examination may nakita na mga kulangi sa leeg and then sa singit at the same time may mga rashes sa upper extremity and lower extremity,” Dr. Ludina Insegni, DOH 8 medical coordinator, said.

Specimen was collected from the patient based on the request of his attending physician to place him under confirmatory test for monkey pox.

The test will be sent to the National Capital Region and will take two weeks before the release of the result.

While waiting for the result, contact tracing of 12 persons deemed close contact of the patient was facilitated by health authorities in Northern Samar. They have monitored the town of Catarman as well.

The 12 were found to be asymptomatic, but they were advised to keep distance from public places. DOH 8 has already conducted an information drive on monkeypox along with dengue.

“Ang implication ay hindi maganda parang matatakot talaga ang community, but if you knew about this case, mas madali for them to act or gawin ang mga interventions na dapat like for example you have to engage the community din….We encourage po to wear mask, face mask sa public. Kon may suspected case within the area, kon wala naman exposure sa tao na may fever and rash.. washing is very important especially sa mga surfaces na uncleaned, kasi kahit sa beddings pwede ka rin ma-contaminate,” Dr. Insegni added.