The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday that there have been no new cases of mpox in the Philippines, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of a global public health emergency for the second time in two years due to the disease.
DOH Spokesperson Albert Domingo confirmed that the total number of recorded mpox cases in the country remains at nine, with the last case detected in December 2023. “Sa Pilipinas, ang mpox na naitala natin so far ay 9 pa po at hindi naman dumagdag,” Domingo said during a public briefing.
The WHO issued its highest level of alert, the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), after a significant rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the spread of the disease to neighboring countries.
“Bakit ang WHO ay nagdeklara ng sinasabing public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)? Kasi po gusto ng buong mundo…na huwag na sanang palabasin pa doon sa lugar po na kumakalat,” Domingo explained.
Despite the global alert, the DOH reassured the public that the Philippine surveillance systems are on high alert, with the Bureau of Quarantine closely monitoring travelers from Africa. “Nagtatanong po sila siguro nang may additional questions or baka mas maganda ho iyong interview pagdating sa ating mga biyahero mula sa Africa,” Domingo added.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the DRC. It is primarily transmitted through close physical contact and causes symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and large skin lesions.
The WHO noted that over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported in the DRC this year, surpassing the total number from the previous year.
Two vaccines are currently recommended by WHO experts for the prevention of mpox.