The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday, June 9, clarified that there have been no reported deaths from Monkeypox (now called Mpox) in any of the regions nationwide.
“Walang pasyenteng namatay sa Mpox (ang kasalukuyang bansag sa dating 'Monkeypox') mula sa anumang rehiyon ng bansa (No patients have died from Mpox (the current term for the former 'Monkeypox') in any region of the country),” DOH Spokesperson Albert Domingo told reporters in a Viber message.
Citing data from the DOH-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) as of June 8, Domingo noted that all those tested for Mpox had “negative” results.
Domingo issued the clarification following a report that the DOH in Central Visayas is investigating the death of a 27-year-old male from Negros Oriental, which is a suspected Mpox case.
“Halos magkahawig ang mga butlig o sintomas ng Chickenpox (bulutong-tubig), Shingles, Herpes, at Mpox (The bumps or symptoms of Chickenpox, Shingles, Herpes, and Mpox are very similar),” Domingo explained.
He urged everyone to wait for the official statement from the DOH and avoid using unverified information.
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is characterized by a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever.
Typical symptoms of Mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions lasting from two to four weeks, along with fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
The disease can spread to humans through direct contact with an infected person, contaminated materials, or infected animals.
In July 2022, the DOH confirmed the first case of Mpox in the Philippines, involving a 31-year-old Filipino who had returned from abroad.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/29/ph-confirms-first-monkeypox-case