Philippines has Reported its First Mpox Case of 2024

Philippines has Reported its First Mpox Case of 2024

A new case of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) has been reported in the Philippines, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday.

The DOH confirmed receiving information about this newly recorded case on August 18, marking the first Mpox case of the year and bringing the total number of cases in the country to 10.

The last Mpox case in the Philippines was recorded in December 2023, with all previous patients having fully recovered.

"The patient is a 33-year-old Filipino male with no recent travel history outside the Philippines," the DOH stated.

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease that primarily affects central and west African tropical rainforest regions but has occasionally spread to other areas. The virus is transmitted mainly through close contact between individuals, but it can also spread from contaminated objects and surfaces.

Symptoms of Mpox include fever, rash, flu-like symptoms, and skin lesions.

While most Mpox cases are mild, the disease can be severe for children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.