The Department of Health reported two additional cases of mpox, formerly referred to as Monkeypox, in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday, increasing the total number of cases in the Philippines to 12.
The 11th mpox case is a 37-year-old male patient whose symptoms began on August 20, including rashes on his face, arms, legs, torso, palms, and soles.
The patient had no known exposure to anyone with similar symptoms but admitted to having close, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact within 21 days prior to the onset of his symptoms.
He was admitted to a government hospital on August 22 where he remains hospitalized. A skin sample was collected there and subsequently tested at the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Additionally, the 12th mpox case is a male from Metro Manila whose symptoms started on August 14. The initial symptoms were skin lesions observed in his groin area. The patient also admitted to having an intimate, skin-to-skin contact with a sexual partner.
The patient was initially treated for a bacterial infection at an outpatient clinic. However, when pimple-like lesions appeared on his face, forehead, and scalp, the diagnosis was reconsidered.
The DOH reported that both cases are identified as Clade II variant which is considered to be the milder form of the mpox virus.
According to the DOH, mpox can spread to humans through close, intimate contact with an infected person and by coming into contact with contaminated items such as used clothing or utensils.
Mid-August when the DOH detected the 10th case of the mpox in the Philippines, a 33-year-old male with no travel history outside the country but was involved in sexual activities at various spa clinics. The agency identified 41 close contacts of the said patient.
