Deadlier mpox variant not yet in PH, no need for lockdown – DOH

A resident holds a flyer on mpox distributed during a town hall meeting held in San Juan City in Metro Manila in September 2024. — File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The deadlier Clade I-b strain of the mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus has not yet been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said in a statement Saturday.

The statement came as the department debunked social media posts claiming there would be a lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.

“Mpox Clade I-b has yet to be seen here in the Philippines. We mostly have Clade II. Clade II has a lower mortality rate, around one for every ten, compared to four to five with Clade I-b,” the DOH said in Filipino.

“There’s no need for a lockdown because mpox is not airborne,” the department added.

READ: Mpox: What is it, how it spreads, care for patients

DOH also addressed local government units (LGUs) recently announcing the number of mpox cases in their areas of responsibility.

“There were more mpox cases in 2024. There were also more recorded in April compared to May 2025. It just so happened that it is making headlines because LGUs are actively announcing it now,” the department said.

Nonetheless, DOH assured it was coordinating with LGUs to give proper medical treatment to individuals with confirmed and suspected mpox cases.

READ: DOH cautions public vs illegal mpox vaccines

The DOH added it has asked the Department of Information and Communications Technology to ask social media platforms to take down posts claiming there would be a lockdown in response to mpox.

“The DOH is reminding everyone not to believe the circulating fake Facebook posts with deceptive marketing strategies, fake endorsements from experts and false statements about health,” it added. /das