This undated image obtained from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in Bethesda, Maryland, shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox or mpox particles (green) found within an infected cell (pink and purple), cultured in the laboratory. (Photo by Handout / National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases / Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s first mpox (formerly monkeypox) patient this year is a resident of Metro Manila, Department of Health (DOH) chief Teodoro Herbosa revealed.
Herbosa was asked during a press conference on Monday about the details of the new mpox case, which the DOH earlier announced in a statement.
“From NCR,” he said, in reply to questions regarding the patient’s whereabouts.
READ: 1st mpox case in the Philippines for 2024 detected – DOH
The DOH) said they received information on a newly recorded mpox infection on Sunday, August 18. It also described the patient as a “33-year-old male Filipino national with no travel history outside the Philippines but with close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset.”
“Symptoms started more than a week ago with fever, which was followed four days later by findings of a distinct rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, as well as palms and soles,” it added.
According to Herbosa, DOH has launched contact tracing efforts to prevent the spread of the viral infection.
“We had nine cases in 2023 but we were able to test them little by little, this means that the mpox virus is among us. It is not imported. It is here,” he explained in Filipino.
“Warning to everybody that mpox is here and it was contracted through community transmission from a fellow Filipino. That is why we are contact tracing now,” Herbosa added.
READ: Fear grips east DR Congo as displaced await mpox vaccine
He then advised the public to frequently wash their hands with soap and water or disinfect using alcohol-based sanitizers.
“We can avoid mpox. Mpox is transmitted through close, intimate contact, and also the materials used by people who have mpox. Keeping our hands clean with soap and water, or with alcohol-based sanitizers will help,” Herbosa said.
“The DOH will make the testing process as convenient as possible, so that suspect cases may be identified fast and allowed to stay at home,” he added.
The DOH said the detection of the new mpox case raised the total number of recorded mpox cases nationwide to 10. The country’s last recorded mpox patient was in December 2023. All previous patients recovered, it noted.