Mpox cases on the rise in the Philippines
It has been reported that the number of mpox cases across the Philippines has risen to 3 following the detection of the virus in 2 more individuals.
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The number of mpox cases in the Philippines has risen to 3
The Philippine Department of Health issued a statement on its Facebook account regarding the increase in cases in the country.
The statement indicated that the milder Clade 2 variant of the mpox virus was detected in two individuals in their 30s residing in the capital, Manila, and its surrounding areas.
NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES RISES TO 3
With the global wave of the new mpox variant, the number of active cases detected in the Philippines has reached 3.
The first mpox case of this year in the Philippines was recorded on August 19.
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had decided to convene the WHO Emergency Committee on August 14 in response to the potential for further international spread of the mpox virus in Africa and other regions.
The WHO Emergency Committee announced its recommendation that the situation regarding the mpox virus constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
The African Union also announced that a continent-wide public health emergency had been declared against the rapidly spreading mpox virus in African countries.
HOW IS THE MPOX VIRUS TRANSMITTED?
The mpox virus is transmitted from rodents such as mice and squirrels or from infected individuals. Touching the skin rashes caused by the virus, using clothing, bed sheets, towels, and similar items contaminated with these rashes, and coming into contact with body fluids are among the most significant causes of transmission.
Initial symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after contracting the virus. The virus typically causes high fever, headache, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, shivering, and skin blisters similar to chickenpox.
There is no specific treatment method for the disease, and it is managed with antiviral drugs. The majority of cases experience a mild form of the disease and recover within a few weeks.
The WHO changed the name of "monkeypox" to "mpox" in 2022 due to concerns regarding racism and discrimination.