A health worker examines skin lesions that are characteristic of mpox on the back of a young child at the mpox treatment centre at the Nyiragongo General Referral Hospital, north of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on  August 14, 2024. Guerchom Ndebo, WHO

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it has adjusted its advisory to the public to avoid sexual intercourse and encouraged sexually active individuals to instead “go virtual” as a means of avoiding the transmission of mpox.

An annex from a Bureau of Quarantine Memorandum answered frequently asked questions including queries of those who consider themselves sexually active and have plans of engaging in sexual intercourse.

“Go virtual! Gumamit ng video call kasama ang partner na pinagkakatiwalaan mo!”

(Go virtual! Video call with a partner you trust.)

It also discouraged touching and instead opt for “self-pleasure” or masturbation away from a partner.

In a statement, Health spokesperson Albert Domingo said the language used in the DOH handout is the same language being used in other countries.

“It was in earlier drafts of DOH messages,” he said.

In its website, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explicitly enumerated ways of reducing exposure to mpox despite being sexually active.

“Masturbate together at a distance without touching each other and without touching any rash. Have virtual sex with no in-person contact,” the CDC said.

It also asked the public to “consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing much skin-to-skin contact as possible.”

The CDC said leather or latex gear can also serve as barrier to skin-to-skin contact.

Domingo said changes have been made to be “culturally appropriate in our setting.”

“The science remains the same: close and intimate, skin-to-skin contact is how mpox spreads,” Domingo said.

The Philippines has eight active mpox cases since it the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency of international concern last month, due to multiple country outbreaks in Africa.