The Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) on Monday said that all mpox cases in the country remain part of Clade 2, with no detection of the more severe Clade 1b strain found in recent outbreaks abroad.
“Since the first case of mpox in the Philippines was reported in July 2022, more cases of mpox have been detected in several regions in the Philippines,” PSMID said in a statement.
“To date, no case of Clade 1b, the more recent strain implicated in the 2024 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been identified in the Philippines,” it added.
Health experts said the virus is primarily transmitted through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with infected individuals. Transmission often occurs through close physical interactions such as kissing, sexual contact, or hugging, particularly among intimate partners or household members.
The health group emphasized that mpox does not spread through airborne transmission across rooms, public spaces, or transportation settings like airplanes.
“Compulsory masking in these areas or within the broader community is not necessary. Enforcing masks is not a cost-effective measure and will not prevent the spread of mpox,” PSMID said.
There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for mpox, but most patients recover without it. A vaccine exists to prevent mpox infection, but the global supply remains limited.
PSMID urged the public to rely on credible health authorities, including the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), for accurate information.
Meanwhile, in Cebu City, local officials have formed an inter-agency task force to monitor suspected mpox cases despite national health authorities saying there is no cause for alarm.
Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced on Monday that four individuals are currently under observation and in isolation as they await confirmatory test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
Garcia signed an executive order on June 2 creating the task force, which will be led by the City Health Department and will coordinate case monitoring and response efforts among various agencies, according to the Cebu City Public Information Office.
He also called on the City Council to draft ordinances for an emergency disaster response plan related to mpox. While the suspected cases remain unconfirmed, Garcia assured the public that the patients are being managed under appropriate health protocols and there is no indication of widespread transmission.
