MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday, September 1, reported three new cases of mpox, bringing total number of active cases in the country to 8.

“As public awareness grows and surveillance strengthens, DOH and local government unit health systems continue to find and care for mpox cases. Mpox surveillance systems report three more confirmed mpox cases — two in Metro Manila, and another in the CALABARZON region. All three have the milder MPXV clade II,” the DOH said.

The DOH said that the total number of reported cases in the Philippines stands at 17 since July 2022, when the government detected its first case of the disease. Of the total cases, nine have recovered while eight still have symptoms.

What are the profiles of the new cases?

“Cases 15 and 16 had anonymous sexual encounters with more than one partner, while case 17 had close, skin to skin sexual contact with another person who had skin symptoms,” the DOH said.

Mpox case 15

• 29-year-old male from Metro Manila
• Symptoms started on August 21
• Had anonymous sexual encounters
• Had rashes on upper lip, arm, and anal are; had swollen neck lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle pain, and weakness; fever
• Disclosed one close contact
• No travel history before onset of symptoms
• Home isolation

Mpox case 16

• 34-year-old male from Metro Manila
• Symptoms started on August 27
• Had rashes and blisters over his arms, genital and anal areas; had cough, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes in his groin area
• Had sex with three partners
• Home isolation
• Contract tracing is ongoing

Mpox case 17

• 29-year-old male from Calabarzon
• Symptoms started on August 19
• Had fever; developed rashes (vesicles) on his face, thorax, arms, legs, and soles; had headache, muscle pain, and swollen neck lymph nodes
• No travel history within 21 days before onset of symptoms
• Had close intimate contact with one sexual partner who may have had the same skin symptoms
• Has two household close contacts

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged the public to avoid intimate contact, “especially anonymous ones with multiple sexual partners.”

“Better and wider risk communication is working, and so is improved access to consultation and testing. Anyone can get Mpox, but it is crystal clear that the mode of transmission here is close, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact,” he said.

Health authorities here and overseas have noted that mpox is transmitted mainly through close, skin-to-skin contact.

Most of the cases detected in the Philippines have so far started with noticing a “distinct rash,” accompanied by a fever. The World Health Organization lists the following as the other common symptoms of mpox:

• sore throat
• headache
• muscle aches
• back pain
• low energy
• swollen lymph nodes

The DOH has repeatedly said that mpox is “treated with supportive care,” so it is all about managing the symptoms. – Rappler.com