Philippines detects 1st mpox case with no travel history

New Delhi: Amid the latest global Mpox spread, a 33-year-old man with no travel history has become the first lab-confirmed case with the infectious disease in the Philippines, according to the country’s Health Ministry on Monday.

The country’s Department of Health (DOH) was informed of the man on Sunday. His specimens were collected from the skin lesions, and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test confirmed the Mpox virus.

The man reportedly had close, intimate contact three weeks before the onset of Mpox symptoms, and his symptoms started more than a week ago with fever. Four days later, the man had a rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, as well as palms and soles, the DOH said.