Authorities watching possible mpox case

Health authorities in Northern Samar are monitoring a suspected case of mpox

Inquirer files

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — Health authorities in Northern Samar are monitoring a suspected case of monkeypox, a 24-year-old man in Catarman town.

According to the Provincial and Catarman Municipal Health Offices, the patient has been experiencing symptoms of monkeypox, including a two-week fever, body weakness and vesicular rashes.

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“We have one suspected monkeypox case—a 24-year-old man who has presented with fever, body weakness and vesicular rashes over the past two weeks,” the advisories read.

Dr. Myrna Trongcoso, Catarman municipal health officer, said contact tracing and confirmatory tests are being conducted.

The patient has no travel history.

He has been in isolation at the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman since Saturday night, according to Rei Josiah Echano, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

Echano also said the patient had recently contracted dengue fever, which shares some symptoms with monkeypox. —Joey Gabieta

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