Extracellular, brick-shaped mpox virions (colorized pink). Backlighting shows surface membranes of the virions and the outlines of nucleocapsids. NIAID  

MANILA — The Department of Health on Monday reported a new case of mpox in the Philippines, saying the patient had no travel history outside the country.

In a statement, the DOH said the latest case of mpox — formerly called monkeypox — was reported to the agency on Sunday and is the 10th laboratory-confirmed mpox case in the Philippines. 

The new case was detected by heightened government surveillance after a surging mpox outbreak in Africa was declared an emergency by the World Health Organization last week. 

The DOH said the patient is a 33-year-old Filipino male "with no travel history outside the Philippines but with close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset."

Mpox is transmitted to humans through intimate contact with someone infectious, with contaminated materials like used clothing or utensils, or with infected animals.

The DOH said the patient's symptoms started more than a week ago with a fever. Four days later, he developed a distinct rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, and groin, as well as on palms and soles, the agency said.

The latest mpox case was seen in a government hospital. His PCR test results are positive for the mpox virus.

The ninth mpox case in the Philippines was detected in December 2023, the DOH said, noting that all previous cases had recovered. 

READ: WHO seeks mpox vaccine production surge

BORDER CONTROL?

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the implementing changes to border controls similar to the ones experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic was “immaterial.” 

“Kasi nga nandito na [ang mpox] eh. Hindi naman siya nag-travel. That means itong virus ay nandito sa Pilipinas. We had nine cases in 2023 pero pakonti-konti ang nate-test. So that means the mpox virus is among us. So hindi siya imported. Nandito siya. Warning ‘yan to everybody,” he said. 

(It’s here. He didn’t travel abroad – that means this virus is in the country. We had nine cases in 2023 and we tested little by little. So that means the mpox virus is among us. It’s not imported. This is a warning to everybody.) 

What is mpox, how is it spread, and how can it be prevented?

Herbosa said that while Filipinos should not be overly alarmed by the detection of a new case, it would be wise to increase the level of caution and observe handwashing and other hygienic practices as this is the easiest way to kill the virus.

The DOH added that it expects to confirm other cases given that the virus is already in the country with “community transmission.”

“Kaya nga dineklara ito ng WHO na PHEIC (public health emergency of international concern). ‘Yung declaration na ‘yan, ‘yan yung one step before becoming an epidemic,” Herbosa said. 

“They declare something that has a potential to become an epidemic. Right now, may outbreak sa parte ng isang continent.” 

(That is why the WHO declared this a PHEIC. This declaration is the first step  before becoming an epidemic… Right now there’s an outbreak in one part of a continent.) 

Metro Manila hospitals where patients may be tested for mpox include Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and the UP-Philippine General Hospital. 

Some hospitals in Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are also able to test for mpox, Herbosa said.  

WHAT IS MPOX? WHAT IS NEW? 

There are two subtypes of the mpox virus: clade 1 and clade 2.

The deadlier clade 1 has been endemic in the Congo Basin in central Africa for decades.

The less severe clade 2 has become endemic in parts of West Africa.

The virus gained international prominence in May 2022, when a less deadly strain called clade 2b spread around the world, mostly affecting gay and bisexual men.

Between January 2022 and June 2024, 208 deaths and more than 99,000 mpox cases were recorded across 116 countries, according to the WHO.

The latest surge has been of the deadlier clade 1 -- and its new mutated variant.

The new strain, called clade 1b, was first detected among sex workers in the DRC in September 2023.

Sweden recently reported the first case of the variant outside of Africa, and the EU's health body urged countries to increase preparedness. Pakistan reported Asia's first case. – With a report from Agence France-Presse