While no new mpox cases have been reported in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) remained on alert as Africa declared a public health emergency due to an outbreak that has spread to some of its countries.
DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the number of mpox cases in the Philippines has remained steady at nine as of Wednesday, Aug. 14.
This includes four cases identified in 2022 and five more cases detected in 2023—one in May, one in July, and three in December.
Domingo reiterated that no new cases have been reported since December 2023.
Despite the stability in the country’s case numbers, he said DOH remains on alert following the health emergency declaration by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the World Health Organization, mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus.
Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can persist for two to four weeks.
Other symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infected person, contaminated materials, or infected animals.
Most people recover fully, but some may experience severe illness.