The Philippines has confirmed two additional cases of the mpox virus, specifically the milder clade 2 variant, raising the total number of active cases to three, according to the country’s health ministry. The newly reported cases involve a 37-year-old male and a 32-year-old male, both from Metro Manila. Health Minister Teodoro Herbosa noted ongoing local transmission of the virus in the region.
The recent infections follow an earlier confirmed case involving a 33-year-old male with no travel history outside the Philippines. Since July 2022, the country has reported 12 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox.
This development comes as the World Health Organisation recently declared mpox a global public health emergency due to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries. The monkeypox virus, which causes mpox, leads to flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While generally mild, it poses serious risks to children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
