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5 active mpox cases confirmed – DOH
By Nidz Godino
"Nine cases have long recovered and five are active cases waiting for symptoms to resolve," Department of Health (DOH) said active mpox cases in the Philippines are now at five after DOH two more cases of infectious disease added.
Confirmed mpox cases since July 2022 are now 14.
Two new cases are in Metro Manila and Calabarzon. Both have milder form of mpox virus, MPXV clade II.
Patient in Metro Manila is female, 26, whose rashes and fever started on Aug. 20. She developed sore throat and swollen neck lymph nodes.
"She continues to recover at home, under close and continuing monitoring by local health authorities," DOH noted.
Female patient had no travel history three weeks before symptoms started and two of her close contacts do not exhibit symptoms.
In Calabarzon, 12-year-old male patient's symptoms began on Aug. 10. He had fever and later developed rashes, cough and swollen lymph nodes in groin.
Male patient also has no travel history. Other circumstances are still being verified.
More mpox cases are being detected due to heightened surveillance, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
"Situation strengthens our health system we can find, test and treat mpox…we will be ready should clade Ib get here," Herbosa said, referring to new strain of mpox virus.
Four suspected mpox cases being monitored in hospital in Eastern Visayas have not been confirmed yet, DOH-Region 8 said.
Specimens collected from patients in isolation were sent to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila.
One of the patients is male, 24, who suffered two-week fever, physical weakness and vesicular rashes. He is confined in hospital in Catarman, Northern Samar.
Male patient had no travel history.
Two thousand doses of Jynneos vaccine will be availed of by DOH to prevent spread of mpox in the Philippines.
Jynneos vaccine is slightly different from smallpox vaccine, DOH noted.
"Smallpox vaccine is made from vaccinia virus. This one for mpox Jynneos is modified vaccinia Ankara. Vaccinia and MVA belong to same Orthopoxvirus family where mpox also is," Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said.
DOH has signified to World Health Organization its intent to get access to smallpox vaccines.
"As to the current vaccine, Africa needs it badly compared to us... since there are not that many available vaccines right now, it will be used there to contain mpox outbreak, but I already made request… I have about 2,000 doses coming from our share in ASEAN-World Health Organization…it will undergo process for it to be made available in the country," Herbosa said.
DOH reported detection of two more mpox cases in Metro Manila, bringing total case count to 12 since July 2022.
Of 12 mpox cases, nine have recovered while remaining three are "active cases waiting for symptoms to resolve."
Filipinos are advised to avoid close,intimate, skin-to-skin contact and to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Mpox is viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through close, intimate contact with someone who is infectious or through contaminated materials.
Common mpox symptoms are skin rashes or mucosal lesions, which can last up to four weeks.
Rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
Meanwhile, with onset of rainy season and threat of mpox, health advocates urged DOH to expedite procurement of influenza vaccines for senior citizens.
"Our seniors cannot afford to be left exposed and vulnerable," said Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director Lulu Bravo.
"Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 mandates protection of our elderly and it's imperative that they receive flu vaccines they are entitled to," said Bayan Bakuna lead convenor Roderick Alapar.
He noted 67.1 percent of influenza-associated mortality in the country occurs annually in adults aged 60 and above.
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