Marcos orders mpox surveillance after first local case

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered continuous surveillance of mpox in the Philippines after health authorities reported the country's first case this year on Wednesday.

During his meeting with Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and other officials, Marcos emphasized the need for continued monitoring especially in areas and among individuals most vulnerable to the disease, such as those with compromised immune systems.

Health authorities confirmed that the new mpox patient is a 33-year-old Filipino who had no travel history outside the country, indicating possible local transmission.

The Quezon City local government announced that the patient visited two establishments in the city and quarantined their 41 close contacts to prevent further spread.

Since 2022, the Philippines has recorded a total of 10 mpox cases, all of whom have recovered without any deaths reported so far.

Marcos received assurances from Herbosa that the DOH is ready to treat and manage mpox cases, noting that the disease does not constitute a public health emergency in the country.