First Mpox Case in 2024 Reported in the Philippines

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The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the first case of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the Philippines for 2024. The case involves a 33-year-old Filipino male with no recent travel history outside the country. However, it was noted that the patient had close, intimate contact about three weeks prior to the onset of symptoms.

Patient's Symptoms and Condition

The patient initially experienced a fever, followed by the development of a rash four days later. The rash appeared on various parts of the body, including the nape, face, back, groin, trunk, palms, and soles. Currently, the individual is undergoing treatment at a government hospital. Specimens from the patient’s skin lesions were collected and tested using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which confirmed the presence of mpox viral DNA.

Mpox Situation in the Philippines

This recent case marks the tenth reported instance of mpox in the Philippines, with the last case recorded in December 2023.

Global Health Context

The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again declared mpox a global public health emergency, particularly after the disease spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding areas. The symptoms of this more severe strain of mpox typically include a skin rash or mucosal lesions lasting between two to four weeks, alongside fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

The DOH continues to monitor the situation closely as they work to prevent further spread within the country.

First Mpox Case in 2024 Reported in the Philippines

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