The Philippines has confirmed a new case of the mpox virus, marking the country’s first instance of the infection since December last year. The patient, a 33-year-old man from Manila, has no history of foreign travel, raising alarms about local transmission of the virus.
The case was reported by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday as part of its intensified surveillance following recent mpox outbreaks in Africa, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). The patient reportedly experienced a fever last week before developing a distinct rash, characteristic of mpox, which health officials described as a blister containing fluid that eventually turns into pus.
“This latest case underscores that the mpox virus is already here in the Philippines,” said Health Secretary Teddy Herbosa during a press briefing on Monday. “This is a warning to everybody.”
The mpox virus, previously known as monkeypox, has been a growing concern globally, particularly after the WHO declared it a global public health emergency. The recent detection in the Philippines adds to the rising number of cases worldwide, including the first confirmed case of the mpox clade I variant in Sweden last Thursday, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In the Philippines, health officials are awaiting the sequencing of the virus detected in the latest case to determine the specific strain. While no border control measures similar to those implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic are planned, the health department is revising its guidelines to encourage those with symptoms to seek immediate consultation and testing.
“We’re confident in our health system’s ability to manage this situation,” Herbosa assured, adding that the DOH would continue to keep the public informed.
