MANILA: The recently detected mpox case in the Philippines is of the mild Clade 2 variant, not the newer, more rapidly spreading variant seen in Africa, says the South Asian country’s health minister.
The Philippines Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa told ANC news channel, "The mpox we found was the original variety and it may have been circulating in our community."
The Philippines reported its first mpox case this year, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 10 since July 2022. The patient, a 33-year-old Filipino male with no travel history outside the country, is currently recovering in the hospital.
Herbosa also confirmed that all nine previously infected Filipinos have recovered.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared mpox a global public health emergency, its highest alert level, for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries.
Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, leads to flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While it is generally mild, it can be fatal, particularly for children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV.