Recent mpox cases still of mild variant — DOH

Metro Manila, Philippines - All recently detected cases of mpox in the country were caused by the milder variant of the viral disease, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday, May 30.

"There are LGUs (local government units) reporting mpox, but I have to declare, all of them are mpox clade II,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa told reporters.

The country’s confirmed cases in 2023 and 2024 were also caused by mpox clade II, which Herbosa described as “very mild and self-limiting.”

The World Health Organization declared a “public health emergency of international concern” last year on the more transmissible clade Ib, which was behind the surge in infections in Africa.

Herbosa said there will be no additional measures to be placed on a nationwide scale for mpox, formerly called monkeypox. Mpox is usually mild but can be fatal under a worst-case scenario.

“We have an mpox task force. We are having surveillance,” he said.

“Binabantayan namin to make sure walang clade Ib na mapasok dito,” he added.

[Translation: We are monitoring the situation to make sure clade Ib will not enter the country.]

Recently, areas in southern Philippines have been reporting cases of mpox, an infectious disease that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.

Davao del Sur and Compostela town in Davao de Oro have ordered residents and individuals living within their jurisdiction to wear face masks and observe physical distancing. https://www.newswatchplus.ph/news/2025/5/29/davao-mask-mandate-mpox.html

On Friday, Davao City debunked social media posts claiming the city is under a modified enhanced community quarantine or any lockdown measure similar to what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. It came following confirmed mpox cases in the LGU rose to six.

The monkeypox virus usually spreads through close, intimate skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. It is not airborne.

“So very important mag-isolate at pagka-gumaling, hopefully, walang problema,” Herbosa said.

[Translation: It’s very important to isolate and once recovered, hopefully, there will be no problems.]

In 2024, the Philippines recorded 52 mpox infections, including one death. The DOH said the fatality may have died due to complications.