He said five of the 18 patients have recovered and no patient has died from the infectious viral disease, Xinhua news agency reported.
Herbosa said the three newly detected cases of mpox were all men and were from Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
"The good thing is that all 18 patients have not infected anyone. They have no epidemiological connection, which means the patients did not spread the virus during their isolation," Herbosa said at a news conference.
However, it is not yet known whether the new strain is related to the more virulent and infectious clade1b strain that is behind the current global outbreak, especially in Africa.
The World Health Organization declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in August, following a surge in cases in many parts of Africa. Currently, about 15 countries in Africa have seen a rise in mpox infections. This outbreak is primarily caused by the clade 1b strain, which is more virulent and infectious than the clade 2 strain 2023 global outbreak.
Outside Africa, one case each of the clade 1b strain has been reported in Sweden and Thailand. Globally, 103,048 laboratory-confirmed cases and 229 deaths have been reported in 121 countries between January 2022 and July 31, 2024, according to WHO.
Mpox is a viral disease characterized by fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy. It is a self-limited disease and patients recover within 4 weeks. Meanwhile, with vaccine shipments arriving in Congo, WHO believes the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Africa can be stopped within the next six months. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is worst-hit, vaccinations are expected to begin next month.
Herbosa said the three newly detected cases of mpox were all men and were from Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
"The good thing is that all 18 patients have not infected anyone. They have no epidemiological connection, which means the patients did not spread the virus during their isolation," Herbosa said at a news conference.
However, it is not yet known whether the new strain is related to the more virulent and infectious clade1b strain that is behind the current global outbreak, especially in Africa.
The World Health Organization declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in August, following a surge in cases in many parts of Africa. Currently, about 15 countries in Africa have seen a rise in mpox infections. This outbreak is primarily caused by the clade 1b strain, which is more virulent and infectious than the clade 2 strain 2023 global outbreak.
Outside Africa, one case each of the clade 1b strain has been reported in Sweden and Thailand. Globally, 103,048 laboratory-confirmed cases and 229 deaths have been reported in 121 countries between January 2022 and July 31, 2024, according to WHO.
Mpox is a viral disease characterized by fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy. It is a self-limited disease and patients recover within 4 weeks. Meanwhile, with vaccine shipments arriving in Congo, WHO believes the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Africa can be stopped within the next six months. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is worst-hit, vaccinations are expected to begin next month.
