FILE PHOTO: Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The Philippines has reported a new case of the mpox virus, marking the first detection of the disease in the country since December of last year, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Monday.
The case, involving a 33-year-old Filipino male with no recent travel history outside the Philippines, has raised concerns as health authorities await test results to determine the specific strain of the virus.
“We are awaiting sequencing results and will update once available,” said DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo in response to inquiries about the strain.
The identity and condition of the patient have not been disclosed, but the DOH has noted that the individual exhibited symptoms more than a week ago, starting with a fever. Four days later, a distinct rash appeared on various parts of the body, including the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, and even the palms and soles.
This latest case brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed mpox cases in the Philippines to ten since the country recorded its first case in July 2022.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the skin. While it is generally mild, it can be severe or even fatal, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, including those living with HIV.
The emergence of this case comes at a time of heightened global concern over mpox. Last Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency, the organization’s highest level of alert, following a significant outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has since spread to neighboring countries.
Adding to the global anxiety is the discovery of a new variant of the mpox virus, which appears to spread more easily through routine close contact.
This variant was confirmed in Sweden last Thursday and has been linked to the growing outbreak in Africa, marking the first known instance of its spread outside the continent.
Pakistan also reported at least one case of mpox on Friday in a patient who had returned from a Gulf country, though the strain in that case has yet to be identified.
The DOH’s ongoing investigation and the pending test results will be crucial in determining whether the new case in the Philippines is linked to the recently identified variant. The situation remains fluid, and health authorities are on high alert, monitoring potential spread within the community.
Chioma Kalu
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