DOH detects 1 new mpox case

The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines has announced the detection of a new mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) case, bringing the total caseload to 10. This case, reported on August 18, 2024, marks the first mpox case in the country this year, following the last case in December 2023.

The patient is a 33-year-old Filipino male with no travel history outside the Philippines but had close, intimate contact three weeks before the onset of symptoms. His symptoms began with fever, followed by a distinct rash on various parts of the body, including the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, palms, and soles.

The patient was admitted to a government hospital where skin lesion specimens were collected and tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The PCR results confirmed the presence of Monkeypox viral DNA. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa stated that the patient is currently in isolation, with a recommended isolation period of three weeks, or 21 days, until the skin lesions dry up.

All previous mpox cases in the Philippines have been isolated, cared for, and have recovered, with no fatalities reported. Herbosa emphasized that mpox can be contracted through close and intimate contact with an infected individual, contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or infected animals. He noted that soap and water can effectively kill the virus.

While there is no need for specialized isolation facilities, home isolation is recommended for symptomatic or positive individuals. Handwashing is also crucial, but wearing face masks is not necessary. Treatment involves supportive care, addressing symptoms with medications like paracetamol for fever and anti-itch ointments for itching. Antiviral medications may be prescribed for cases with comorbidities, but not all cases will require them.

Hospitals capable of gathering complete case data and specimens for mpox confirmation include the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and the UP-Philippine General Hospital, among others.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mpox symptoms include skin rash or mucosal lesions, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. The WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022, lifting it in May 2023. Since January 2022, there have been reports of mpox in 16 African countries, resulting in 1,456 deaths. The number of cases has increased by 160 percent this year compared to the previous year.