MANILA. The Department of Health (DOH) announced Saturday that monkeypox (mpox) cases in the Philippines dipped in May 2025 compared to April, with the total number of cases reaching 911 since 2024.
DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said that while the cumulative cases reached 911 since 2024, the agency focuses on monthly trends rather than the total number. “We detected less than 50 cases in May, while April had more than 50,” he explained in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
Domingo emphasized that the DOH monitors the epidemic curve to avoid creating the impression of a surge in cases based on total numbers. He added that reports of multiple cases in succession led to a misconception of an increase, but the data shows more cases in April than in May.
In September 2024, around 200 suspected and probable mpox cases were reported, but fewer than 20 were confirmed positive. Some cases initially reported as mpox were later identified as chickenpox.
Domingo also reassured the public that only the milder Clade II variant of mpox has been detected in the country, with no cases of the more transmissible Clade 1B variant so far. “We do not need to be alarmed because the variant here is Clade II,” he said.
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa also clarified that some deaths recorded among mpox patients were not caused by mpox itself, but by complications from advanced HIV. “Sec. Herbosa is more concerned about the rising HIV cases, with 56 to 57 new cases daily,” Domingo noted.
He added that mpox is a self-resolving viral disease that usually heals within two to three weeks. Vulnerable individuals who died often had advanced HIV, with mpox present but not the cause of death.
Regarding preventive measures, Domingo said mpox is not airborne, and wearing face masks cannot prevent its transmission. “Mpox spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, so precautions should match the mode of transmission,” he said, encouraging local government units to coordinate with the DOH for appropriate preventive actions.
The DOH continues to monitor the situation closely as it urges the public to stay informed and follow recommended health protocols.
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AMA ACLC San Pablo
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- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
