Philippines detects first mpox case since start of 2024, yet to determine strain
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Reuters August 19, 2024 | 03:44 pm PT
An undated colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (pink) found within an infected cell (yellow), cultured in the laboratory, captured at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Photo by NIAID via Reuters
The Philippines has detected a new case of the mpox virus in the country, the first since December 2023, its health department said on Aug 19, adding that it was awaiting test results before being able to determine the strain.
The patient was a 33-year-old Filipino male who had no travel history outside the Philippines, the Department of Health said.
"We are awaiting sequencing results and will update once available," its spokesman Albert Domingo said when asked about the strain.
Pakistan on Aug 16 confirmed at least one case of the mpox virus in a patient who had returned from a Gulf country, but said it did not yet know the strain of the virus.
The new case in the Philippines is the 10th laboratory-confirmed case the health department has detected. Its first case was in July 2022.
"Symptoms started more than a week ago with fever, which was followed four days later by findings of a distinct rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, as well as palms and soles," it said in a statement.
The disease leads to flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. It is usually mild but can kill children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, all at higher risk of complications.
