The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that recent cases of Mpox detected in Davao City involve the same Clade II variant of the MPX virus previously observed in the country and present no increased public health risk.
In an advisory issued on April 18, the DOH clarified that the patient who died was in a severely immunocompromised state and did not succumb to Mpox itself. The likely cause of death was non-Mpox-related complications.
According to the Davao City Health Office (CHO), response measures remain effective, with surveillance systems enabling the early detection and isolation of cases. Close contacts of the identified cases are currently under monitoring.
The DOH advised the public that the risk level remains unchanged from previous months and reiterated that standard Mpox response protocols continue to be in place.
Mpox symptoms include skin rashes or mucosal lesions lasting two to four weeks, often accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. Transmission occurs through close physical contact, including intimate or sexual contact, or exposure to contaminated materials.
The DOH emphasized that supportive care remains the primary treatment. Patients with no other health conditions may isolate at home until their lesions have healed, typically within two to four weeks.
The advisory was signed by DOH spokesperson and OIC Assistant Secretary Dr. Albert Domingo.