Iniulat ng Department of Health (DOH) nitong Linggo na walo na ang mga aktibong kaso ng mpox (dating monkeypox) sa bansa.
Ito'y matapos na makapagtala pa umano sila ng tatlong bagong kaso ng sakit.
Sa mpox surveillance systems ng DOH, natukoy na dalawa sa bagong kaso ay nasa National Capital Region (NCR) habang isa ang nasa Calabarzon. Sila ay pawang dinapuan ng mas mild na MPXV clade II.
"Findings indicate that the transmission dynamics of clade II still hold true: close, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact," anang DOH.
Nabatid na ang cases 15 at 16 ay mayroong anonymous sexual encounters sa higit isang partner, habang ang case 17 ay mayroong skin to skin sexual contact sa isa pang mayroong skin symptoms.
"The total case count is now 17 since July 2022. Nine cases have long recovered since 2023. Eight are active cases waiting for symptoms to resolve," anang DOH.
Sinabi ng DOH na ang mpox case 15 ay isang 29-anyos na lalaki mula sa NR na nakitaan ng mga sintomas simula noong Agosto 21 at kaagad nag-home isolate.
Ang mpox case 16 naman ay isang 34-anyos na lalaki mula sa NCR na nakitaan ng sintomas simula Agosto 27. Nagpakonsulta siya at kaagad ring nag-home isolation.
Ang mpox case 17 naman ay 29-anyos na lalaki mula sa Calabarzon na nakitaan ng sintomas simula noong Agosto 19. Wala siyang history of travel ngunit nagkaroon ng close intimate contact sa sexual partner na may kahalintulad na skin symptoms. May dalawa siyang household close contacts.
Anang DOH, "Local government units where cases 15, 16, and 17 are from have been informed and have the power and authority by law to disclose more detailed information including response actions, at their discretion."
"Better and wider risk communication is working, and so is improved access to consultation and testing. Anyone can get Mpox, but it is crystal clear that the mode of transmission here is close, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact. Prevention is also clear: avoid intimate contact, especially anonymous ones with multiple sexual partners," ayon naman kay Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa. "We continue to be on guard for Mpox clade Ib. Our health system is active."