MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has detected one new case of mpox — formerly called monkeypox — in the Philippines, the agency announced on Monday, August 19, 2024.
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| Monkeypox virus particles, illustration. Man infected by mpox virus. File photos. |
The country is currently in heightened surveillance due to the recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Prior to this detection, DOH said the last case of the virus was found in December 2023. All previous cases were isolated, cared for and have since recovered.
The health department added that the 10th-laboratory confirmed mpox case was reported to them on August 18, 2024.
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The case is a 33-year-old male Filipino national with no travel history outside the Philippines but with close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset.
The symptoms of the patient 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.
The case was seen in a government hospital, where specimens were collected and tested via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“PCR test results are positive for Monkeypox viral DNA,” the DOH said.
According to the WHO, symptoms of mpox include skin rash or mucosal lesions, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
— The Summit Express
