Philippines reports 15 active mpox cases, mostly in Metro Manila

The number of mpox cases in the Philippines has increased to 15, with one new detection since January, bringing the total recorded cases since 2022 to 24, including nine recoveries and no fatalities.

Of these active cases, eleven are from Metro Manila, three from Calabarzon, and one from Cagayan Valley; fourteen of them are male while one is female, with ages ranging from twelve to forty-one years old.

Health Undersecretary Gloria Balboa emphasized during a press conference that mpox is not as alarming as COVID-19 because it is transmitted through skin-to-skin close intimate contact rather than airborne transmission.

The DOH reiterated their commitment to managing the situation effectively, including prompt testing, contact tracing, and home care, and urged the public to follow guidelines such as proper hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with confirmed cases.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora proposed a massive information drive about mpox to ensure that local communities are well-informed.