DOH detects 1 new mpox case

The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines has reported the detection of a new mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) case, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 10. This latest case, reported on August 18, 2024, marks the first mpox case in the Philippines this year, following the last case reported in December 2023. The infected individual is a 33-year-old Filipino male who had no travel history outside the country but had close, intimate contact with an infected person three weeks before the onset of symptoms.

Symptoms began with a 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 a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The test results confirmed the presence of mpox viral DNA.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa stated that the new case is currently in isolation, with a recommended isolation period of three weeks, or 21 days, until the skin lesions dry up. He emphasized that anyone can contract mpox through close and intimate contact with an infected person, contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or infected animals. However, soap and water can effectively kill the virus.

While there is no need for isolation facilities, home isolation is advised for symptomatic or positive individuals. Handwashing is crucial, and face masks are not necessary. Treatment involves supportive care, addressing symptoms such as fever with paracetamol, itching with anti-itch ointment, and treating lesions. Antiviral medication may be prescribed for cases with comorbidities, but not all cases will require it. Healthy individuals are expected to recover without complications.

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, lifted in May 2023, and recently declared it again due to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries. As of January 2022, 16 African countries have reported cases, with 1,456 deaths. There has been a 160 percent increase in cases this year compared to the previous year.

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