PH detects two more mpox cases of ‘milder’ strain in Metro Manila

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines has detected two more cases of mpox caused by the milder variant, bringing the total active cases to three, the Department of Health announced Monday, Aug. 26.

In a statement, the DOH said two male patients from Metro Manila tested positive to clade II of the monkeypox virus.

“We continue to see local transmission of mpox clade II here in the Philippines, in Metro Manila in particular,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said. “Mpox moves from skin-to-skin, both during sexual encounters and also other intimate forms of skin contact. It is not airborne.”

The detection followed the first mpox case this year, announced just last week. Case 10, a 33-year-old male, does not have travel history outside the country.

Health spokesperson Albert Domingo said the DOH “cannot determine yet any epidemiologic linkages of cases 11 and 12 to case 10.”

But what’s certain, according to the DOH, was that the “transmission dynamics for the two new cases are consistent with earlier warnings: close and intimate, skin-to-skin contact.”

The country recorded 12 cases of mpox, which causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, since 2022. Nine cases have already recovered in 2023, the DOH said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency for mpox as clade Ib currently drives the outbreak in Africa.

Herbosa said mpox is treated with supportive care. “Patients with no other illnesses may stay at home after testing, until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms, typically after 2-4 weeks,” The DOH also said.

The secretary also said the Philippines has asked the WHO for 2,000 doses of vaccines to fight mpox. He added WHO member states agreed to bring the doses first to Africa.

Cases 11 and 12

The DOH said Case 11 is a 37-year-old male from the National Capital Region who noticed his symptoms on Aug. 10. He was admitted to a government hospital on Aug. 22 and is currently recovering there.

His symptoms included a “distinct rash [that] began on his face, arms, legs, thorax, palms, and soles.”

“Initial investigation showed that case 11 had no known exposure to any person with similar symptoms, but admitted to close, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact within 21 days before the start of his symptoms,” the DOH said.

Meanwhile, the symptoms of Case 12, a 32-year-old male also from NCR, started Aug. 14. He saw skin lesions (clear, fluid-filled vesicles) at his groin area, before developing a fever days later.

The DOH said the patient admitted to “close, intimate and skin-to-skin contact with one sexual partner.”

The agency said he was initially managed as a case of a bacterial infection, but was advised to seek consultation at a government hospital after having pimple-like lesions. His skin sample was taken on Aug. 23.

“He was advised home isolation while awaiting results, and has been staying at home ever since,” the DOH said.

QC gov’t on contact tracing

For its part, the Quezon City government continues its contact tracing efforts after Case 10, a 33-year-old male, visited a massage spa and a dermatology clinic in the city before the announcement of his test results for mpox.

Local health officials identified 41 close contacts, with 28 of them under self-quarantine. 

In a statement on Monday, the local government unit said it shut down Fahrenheit Cafe and Fitness Center (F Club) last Saturday “for not allowing the city’s contact tracing team to conduct investigation and inquiries in the establishment.”

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said it was a threat to public health, adding the club’s refusal violated Republic Act 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act.

The club, on Monday, wrote on Facebook: “As per directive of the Health City Government of Quezon City, F Club will hold operations until further notice. MPOX Preventive Measures are taking place. We apologize for the inconvenience.” 

The club’s management has yet to respond to a NewsWatch Plus request for comment regarding the Quezon City local government’s decision.

Belmonte called on business owners to “work closely with the city government, especially on public health concerns.”

The massage spa where Case 10 visited has been temporarily closed after local authorities found it failed to renew its business permit.