The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines has identified a new case of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, marking the country’s tenth case overall and the first since the World Health Organization’s recent declaration of the outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern.”
The latest case, reported to the DOH on Sunday and confirmed through laboratory testing, involves a 33-year-old Filipino male who had no recent travel history outside the Philippines. The patient began showing symptoms over a week ago, including fever followed by a distinctive rash across various parts of the body. After seeking medical attention at a government hospital, the presence of mpox was confirmed via a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
Mpox typically presents with a rash or mucosal lesions that last between two to four weeks, along with other symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus spreads through close contact with an infected individual, contaminated materials, or infected animals.
The DOH has advised that thorough handwashing with soap and water or the use of alcohol-based sanitizers can effectively kill the virus. They also emphasized that gloves should be worn when handling contaminated materials.
In response to this case, the DOH reminded healthcare professionals, particularly dermatologists, to maintain a high level of vigilance and to collect detailed case information from patients showing symptoms. The department provided a list of referral hospitals equipped to handle suspected mpox cases, which includes several major medical centers.
The DOH is also in the process of updating its guidelines to make it easier for potential mpox cases to seek consultation and testing. They recommend that patients with confirmed mpox who are otherwise healthy should remain at home until they have fully recovered. DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized the importance of maintaining hand hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus and committed to making testing for mpox as accessible as possible to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.
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