DOH: Mpox cases under control, PH not included in WHO public health emergency
An undated colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (pink) found within an infected cell (yellow), cultured in the laboratory, captured at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. NIAID/ Handout via REUTERS
Despite the rise of Monkey pox virus (Mpox) cases in the Philippines, the situation is under control and the country is not included in the public health emergency of international concern issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to the Department of Health on Sunday.
In a report in Super Radyo dzBB, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that despite the rise of an undisclosed number of local Mpox cases, the number is below figures recorded in the same period in 2024.
Mpox cases sa bansa, kontrolado; Pilipinas, hindi kasama sa public health emergency ng @WHO, ayon sa @DOHgovph. #SuperBalitaSaTanghali https://t.co/Jl7zdr26Yg — DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 15, 2025
'There is a slight increase of cases in some (local government units) but this is not higher than last year. Mas mataas pa din ang nakita naming cases from last year. We are increasing our campaign in education, treatment and isolation para hindi siya kumalat at dumami pa (to prevent cases from spreading and increasing),' Herbosa said.
(The number of cases we observedin 2024 is higher than this year.)
Herbosa did not specify the exact locations where the new Mpox cases were reported but said the disease is of the milder Clade II variant compared to Clade I which has a higher mortality rate.
Under the Clade II classification, Mpox cases are self-limiting or could heal by itself and does not require close-in intervention from the government.
The worldwide emergency covers Clade Ib, the a variant of the Mpox virus that has shown enhanced transmissibility, particularly through close contact and sexual transmission. —RF, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
Ozamiz City logs first mpox case
An undated colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (pink) found within an infected cell (yellow), cultured in the laboratory, captured at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. NIAID/ Handout via REUTERS Health authorities have confirmed the first positive case of mpox in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Mayor Indy Oaminal said in a press release on Friday, June 20, 2025. The patient, who sought medical attention at the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center, is currently in isolation and recovering well. He presented himself voluntarily for a check-up after experiencing symptoms. The City Health Office (CHO) has launched contact tracing efforts immediately to prevent the possible spread of the disease. Individuals identified as close contacts are now being monitored pursuant to the health protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH). Oaminal urged the public not to panic, noting that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has confirmed that the mpox strain is Clade II, the milder and self-limiting form of the virus. However, residents are still urged to remain vigilant and report to the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, or back pain. The public is also reminded to practice proper hygiene such as regular handwashing, the use of close-fitting masks in public, and avoiding skin-to-skin contact. "Even if the strain is not deadly, we cannot be complacent. Please remain vigilant and practice the prescribed self-protection measures against the virus. At the first sign of symptoms related to Mpox, immediately proceed to the health facility nearest you," Oaminal said. — GMA Regional TV
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
DOH concerned over rising chronic kidney disease cases among children
The Department of Health said the cases of chronic kidney disease are rising. The Department of Health (DOH) has raised concern over the increasing number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases in the Philippines, including among children, prompting a renewed call to strengthen primary care and prevention programs nationwide. 'Tama iyan ano, mayroon ding bata na nakita si Presidente kanina doon sa dialysis center,' said DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa during a Malacañang press briefing on Wednesday. (That's right, the President even saw a child at the dialysis center earlier.) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has since ordered the development of a CKD prevention program to address the root causes of the disease, such as diabetes and hypertension. 'Ang CKD natin ngayon karamihan dahil sa diabetes at hypertension... inatasan ako na palakasin iyong primary care prevention part,' Herbosa said. (Most of our CKD cases today are due to diabetes and hypertension… the President instructed me to strengthen our primary care prevention.) He also pointed to the need for lifestyle changes, especially among the youth. 'Mataas siguro iyong sugar content ng ating mga kinakain, gawan ng paraan para mabawasan ito... iyong ating mga kabataan mabigyan ng tamang ehersisyo or active,' he added. (Maybe our food has too much sugar—we need to find ways to reduce it… our young people need proper exercise and physical activity.) Herbosa emphasized that encouraging healthy habits is more cost-effective in the long run: 'Kapag ang tao ay kumakain nang tama, hindi masyadong matatamis, hindi magkaka-diabetes iyan. Kapag hindi nagka-diabetes iyan, hindi magkakaroon ng chronic kidney disease.' (If a person eats properly and avoids too much sugar, they won't get diabetes. Without diabetes, they won't develop chronic kidney disease.) Meanwhile, PhilHealth president and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado said the agency has allocated around ?300 billion for its total benefit packages in 2025, which includes support for kidney transplant patients and dialysis services. 'Ang huli po naming tantiya ay aabot na po ng mga ?300 billion po ang aming total benefit package na nakalaan po ngayong taong ito,' Mercado confirmed. (Our latest estimate is that the total benefit package for this year will reach about ?300 billion.) PhilHealth's benefit budget for 2026 is currently being planned, with projections based on disease prevalence and expected program expansion. Mercado also addressed concerns about coverage under PhilHealth's Z Benefit Package, which includes kidney transplants. For ward patients, the package fully covers the procedure, including professional fees. For private room patients, the coverage is negotiated with doctors and may require additional agreements between patient and provider. 'Iyong tinatawag namin na Z Package... kapag po doon sa mga ward accommodation... dapat po ay wala nang babayaran,' Mercado said. (In the Z Package, when the procedure is done in ward accommodation, there should be no more out-of-pocket costs.) 'For private [rooms], it's negotiated with doctors… substantially, yes [doctor's fees are covered],' he added, clarifying that excess charges must be discussed before the procedure. Asked about proposed amendments to the Universal Health Care Act—which may reduce PhilHealth premiums from 5% to 3–3.5%—Mercado confirmed that impact studies are underway. 'Gumawa po kami ng pag-aaral... may 3.5%, may 4%, may 4.5%, may 5%—at tiningnan po namin iyong impact doon sa lifespan po ng pondo,' he said. (We conducted studies with various scenarios—3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%—and evaluated their impact on the fund's sustainability.) To ensure continuity of services, PhilHealth is also enhancing internal systems to fast-track claim processing and reduce turnaround times. 'Ramdam po nila iyong pag-iigsi ng claims cycle po namin,' Mercado said, noting improvements from 40-day processing to an average of 23 days in many regions, with some achieving 15 days. PhilHealth is now targeting a seven-day processing time and is working with partner banks to shift from weekly to daily claim disbursements. As part of broader reforms, PhilHealth is reprocessing nearly ?9 billion worth of previously denied claims, especially those filed late between 2018 and 2024. The current rate of denied or returned claims has dropped from over 10% to around 4%. 'Ngayon po na medyo nahabol na natin, iyon naman pong pabalik ang aming tutukan,' Mercado said. (Now that we've addressed incoming claims, we'll shift focus to backlogs from previous years.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
No cases yet of new COVID-19 variant Nimbus in PH
Swab samples for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests are pictured in Berlin, Germany September 22, 2020. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo There are no reported cases yet of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, also known as 'Nimbus,' in the Philippines, according to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Thursday. At a Palace press briefing, Herbosa said that while the new variant is being monitored globally—especially in some Southeast Asian countries—the Philippines has yet to detect a single case. 'Wala pa akong nakuhang report but now we will be monitoring that now that's reported,'' Herbosa said. (I haven't received any report yet, but we will be monitoring now that it has been reported.) The DOH, through its Epidemiology Bureau, is keeping a close watch on COVID-19 cases in light of the rainy season, which typically coincides with a rise in influenza-like illnesses. 'Itong NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus,' ang sinasabi nila, and it was the one causing the drive in countries in Southeast Asia,' Herbosa said. (This NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus,' as they call it, is the one driving the surge in some Southeast Asian countries.) The 'Nimbus' variant, according to a report by the Associated Press, is said to cause a painful symptom described as 'razor blade throat.' Herbosa assured the public that existing COVID-19 vaccines still provide protection against this new variant. 'It seems yung vaccines na binigay before are still effective on them. So, if you were vaccinated during the previous COVID pandemic, you are still protected,' he said. (It seems the vaccines given before are still effective against it. So, if you were vaccinated during the previous COVID pandemic, you are still protected.) Herbosa noted that there has been no significant increase in local COVID-19 cases but emphasized the importance of surveillance. 'We're monitoring our COVID cases kasi nga season natin ng influenza-like illnesses, and COVID is one of those.' (We're monitoring our COVID cases because this is the season for influenza-like illnesses, and COVID is one of them.) The DOH is coordinating with other countries and conducting genome sequencing to detect possible entry of new variants. ''Yan yung importance na nagri-report 'yung ibang countries what their variant is. So, that means magsa-surveillance kami. We will select samples at paggagawa namin sa RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) 'yung genome sequencing para malaman namin kung 'yung variant na 'yan lumalabas na dito,'' Herbosa said. (That's why it's important for other countries to report their variants. It means we will begin surveillance. We will select samples and do genome sequencing at RITM to find out if that variant is already present here.) The DOH has yet to issue any advisory specific to the new variant but urges the public to continue observing precautions, especially during the flu season. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
