The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that they discovered a case of “mpox” or monkeypox in the Philippines last week, marking the 10th recorded case since December 2023, but the first case since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a “public health emergency of international concern.”
“Ito ay na detect last August 18. Ito ay case ng isang 33 taong gulang na lalaki, Filipino siya, wala siyang travel history. Hindi siya nanggaling ng Africa o ibang bansa. That means, basta may close and intimate contact siya before the symptoms started. And the symptoms started more than a week ago,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Monday, August 19, in a special forum.
The WHO’s declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern occurred on August 14 following the surge in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African countries.
Herbosa stated that the patient initially presented with a fever, and after four days, distinct rashes emerged on his face, back, nape, chest, abdomen, groin, and palms. The patient was reportedly admitted to a government hospital.
The sample or specimen taken from the patient was subjected to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which came back positive.
“As of press time, naka isolate ang ating first case,” he stated.
The WHO said that the monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus, a disease with symptoms resembling smallpox but less severe. Although smallpox was eradicated in 1980, mpox still occurs in countries across central and west Africa.
Typical symptoms of mpox include a rash that can persist for 2 to 4 weeks. This rash might begin alongside, or develop after, other symptoms like fever, headache, muscle pain, backache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes (kulani).
Herbosa said anyone can have mpox since its transmission is through close or intimate contact.
Mpox can also contaminate objects and materials like clothes and utensils of infected individuals.
“Pero soap and water will kill the virus,” he said.
Herbosa stated that anyone exhibiting symptoms of the virus should seek medical attention immediately. Samples will be taken from their lesions for PCR testing, which typically takes about four days.
To ensure timely detection, they are currently working closely with dermatologists in hospitals across the country, as patients with skin conditions often consult these specialists first.
