Tacloban City—Health officials in Northern Samar said it recorded its first case of suspected mpox (formerly monkeypox) at the state-run hospital on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The case involved a 24-year-old male, who is showing a two-week history of fever, body weakness, and vesicular rashes.
According to the Northern Samar Provincial Health Office, the patient has no travel history.
“He is currently receiving care at Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, where he is isolated and undergoing confirmatory testing for [mpox],” the provincial health office said in a statement.
Contract tracing efforts have also been launched by the Catarman Municipal Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (MESU).
“Rest assured, our surveillance systems are fully operational, allowing us to closely monitor the situation and safeguard our community from potential health risks,” the provincial health office added.
The Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas earlier urged the public to “protect yourself and the whole family against disease and misinformation.”
“Following intensified surveillance due to the World Health Organization’s declaration of mpox (formerly monkeypox) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the DOH recorded a new case of mpox in the Philippines. Prior to this, the last case was reported in December 2023,” it said.
“All previous cases were isolated, contained, and recovered from the disease,” it added.
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
The disease can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever.
However, most people fully recover, but some get very sick, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The disease can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.
