The Philippines has announced its first Mpox case of the year. This was made public on Monday, though health officials are still determining if it involves the newly concerning Clade 1b variant.
However, Health Secretary, Teodoro Herbosa in a statement reassured the public, saying, “Our health system is working. We can handle the situation and will keep the public well-informed.” The health department is updating its mpox guidelines to encourage those with symptoms to seek prompt consultation and testing.
The Clade 1b strain is known for its increased fatality and transmissibility, has recently caused hundreds of deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been detected in Sweden and Pakistan.
The World Health Organization recently declared the surge in mpox cases a public health emergency of international concern, the highest alert level.
The 33-year-old Filipino man, who contracted the virus without any international travel, was reported by a government hospital on Sunday.
Initial symptoms included fever, followed by a distinct rash on multiple areas of his body. Test results confirmed the presence of Monkeypox viral DNA in his lesions.
Health authorities are awaiting sequencing results to verify if this case is Clade 1b. This case marks the tenth confirmed mpox infection in the country, with the last recorded case being in December of the previous year.
