MANILA, Philippines – The first case of monkeypox has been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Friday, July 29.
According to DOH’s Dr. Beverly Ho, the patient is a 31-year-old Filipino who came from abroad. The case has records of traveling to countries with confirmed monkeypox cases. The patient arrived in the Philippines last July 19 and is now on strict home isolation.
Dr. Ho said, “The DOH detects the first confirmed case of monkeypox in the Philippines.”
“The case has been discharged well and is undergoing strict isolation and monitoring at home,” she added.
Dr. Ho explained that the health agency identified 10 close contacts of the patient. All of them are in quarantine and being monitored closely for symptoms. So far, the close contacts showed no symptoms while under quarantine.
“Ten close contacts were recorded, of which three were from the same household. All have been advised to quarantine and are being monitored by the department,” the doctor said.
Based on DOH guidelines, persons who have been in close contact with a confirmed case are required to undergo a quarantine of 14 to 21 days upon the onset of symptoms.
Dr. Ho assured the public that the DOH is on high alert in detecting monkeypox cases in the country.
“The DOH assures everyone that our public health surveillance systems [can] detect and confirm monkeypox cases,” she added.
Monkeypox virus is a rare viral infection that has been spreading in Europe, and other countries. It was first reported in human cases in 1970 among laboratory monkeys.
The first recent monkeypox case was confirmed last May 7 in Britain. Since then, it has spread to the US, Canada, and other countries.
READ: Monkeypox cases detected in Canada, US, European countries
Initial symptoms include fever and headache until rashes start to develop. Skin lesions such as macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, will soon progress. There’s still no cure for monkeypox virus.
— Sally, The Summit Express
