By Brian Jules Campued
Two more cases of mpox (formerly monkeypox) have been detected in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 14.
In a press release, the DOH said the 13th case is a 26-year-old female from the National Capital Region (NCR) who noticed symptoms starting August 20, specifically rashes on her face and back accompanied by fever. She developed more symptoms three days later.
“Exact circumstances of sample collection and the mechanism of close, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact are still being determined,” the DOH said.
“She did not travel anytime three weeks before her symptoms started; she also did not go around even as she had symptoms,” it added.
Meanwhile, the 14th case is a 12-year-old male from Calabarzon who had a fever on August 10 and developed rashes on his face, legs, trunk, and pubic area. The patient, likewise, has no travel history in the three weeks before his symptoms began appearing.
“Other circumstances are still being verified,” the DOH stated.
There are currently five active cases of mpox in the country, all of whom are infected by the milder MPXV Clade II.
“Heightened surveillance leads to a flashlight effect—our people become more aware and we detect more cases. All are the milder MPXV clade II,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said. – iro