The Philippines has confirmed its first case of mpox since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The Department of Health (DOH) announced the new case on Sunday, marking the country's 10th instance of the disease since the outbreak began. The previous case was reported in December 2023, as reported by Manila Standard.

The infected individual, a 33-year-old Filipino man, had not travelled abroad, according to the DOH.

The patient is currently receiving care at a government hospital. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has reassured the public that there is no immediate need for quarantine facilities, as patients can effectively self-isolate at home for a period of three weeks.

The DOH has advised on preventive measures, including frequent handwashing, to mitigate the risk of transmission. Symptoms of mpox typically include rashes, fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, low energy, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. The health department is currently revising its guidelines to encourage individuals showing symptoms to seek medical consultation and testing.

Recent developments in mpox have raised global concern, particularly with the emergence of Clade 1b, a more virulent strain. This strain has been linked to significant mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has also been detected in Sweden and Pakistan. The WHO's decision to declare the surge a PHEIC underscores the severity of the situation.

The Philippine health authorities are awaiting sequencing results to determine if the local case involves the Clade 1b variant. Preliminary tests confirm the presence of Monkeypox viral DNA in specimens collected from the patient's skin lesions. The DOH has stated that the national health system is prepared to handle the situation and will continue to provide updates to the public.