Thursday, April 3, 2025

Philippines detects 1st mpox case with no travel history

Date:

Share post:

Shillong, August 19: Amid the latest global Mpox spread, a 33-year-old man with no travel history has become the first lab-confirmed case with the infectious disease in the Philippines, according to the country’s Health Ministry on Monday.

 

The country’s Department of Health (DOH) was informed of the man on Sunday. His specimens were collected from the skin lesions, and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test confirmed the Mpox virus.

 

The man reportedly had close, intimate contact three weeks before the onset of Mpox symptoms, and his symptoms started more than a week ago with fever.

 

Four days later, the man had a rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, as well as palms and soles, the DOH said.

 

The new case takes the total tally of lab-confirmed Mpox cases in the Philippines to 10. The last case was found in December 2023.

 

The DOH noted that all previous cases were isolated, and have also recovered from the infection.

 

Last week, the World Health Organisation declared a global health emergency for Mpox, after infections spread across 13 African countries, including Congo, where 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported.

 

The current outbreak is being caused by Clade 1b, which is more virulent and deadly.

 

Outside of Africa, Sweden has reported the first case of Mpox infections caused by Clade 1b. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also reported 3 cases of people with a travel history, however, the Clade is not known yet.

 

The WHO defines Mpox as a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus — a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. It can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.

 

The common symptoms include skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2 to 4 weeks. These are typically followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes, which resolve independently. However, in some cases, it can turn fatal. (IANS)

Related articles

Trump unveils tariffs

Washington, April 2: President Donald Trump announced plans for sweeping tariffs Wednesday, saying "our country has been looted,...

SC quashes HC order against The Shillong Times

NEW DELHI, April 2: The Supreme Court of India has quashed a contempt proceeding against The Shillong Times...

Kharlukhi raps Biren for remarks on PA Sangma

SHILLONG, April 2: Former NPP state president and Rajya Sabha MP WR Kharlukhi on Wednesday criticised former Manipur...

New snakehead species of fish found in Chokpot

SHILLONG, March 2: Meghalaya has once again gained recognition in the scientific community with the discovery of a...