Philippines Detects Two New Mpox Cases

Manila, —The Philippine Department of Health reported the detection of two new cases of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), bringing the total number of Mpox cases in the Philippines to five.

Teodoro Herbosa, the Secretary of Health, stated that the new patients include a 26-year-old woman from Metro Manila and a 12-year-old boy from the southern region of Manila. Both patients were infected with the mild Clade II strain of the Mpox virus, similar to the three previous cases reported by the Department of Health, and are currently recovering at home.

Herbosa added that the preliminary investigation aligns with earlier studies on the local transmission of the Clade II Mpox virus, and further contact tracing is underway. He also mentioned that strict monitoring has led to the identification of more cases.

The report indicates that the Philippines has recorded a total of 14 Mpox cases since July 2022.

Albert Domingo, Assistant Spokesperson for the Department of Health, revealed that nine patients have recovered since 2023, while five are still recuperating. The department is continuing to investigate additional close contacts of the infected individuals.

Source: Xinhua Thai