PH second monkeypox patient 'completely healed,' discharged from isolation: DOH

MANILA (UPDATE) — The country’s second monkeypox case has been discharged from isolation after recovering from the disease, the Department of Health said Friday.

According to the agency, the 34-year-old Filipino was declared recovered by a physician on Aug. 31. A signed clearance certificate was issued to the patient on Sept. 1.

"Completely healed siya at 'yung mga close contacts na 18 ay lahat naging asymptomatic for the rest of the quarantine period," DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.

The second monkeypox case was confirmed positive on Aug. 18. The patient had recently travelled to countries with confirmed cases of monkeypox.

To date, the Philippines' tally of monkeypox infections remains at 4.

"Wala po tayong bagong detection (we have no new detection). Although there are samples being submitted but all of those samples, yielded negative results," Vergeire said.

• World monkeypox outbreak tops 50,000 cases, WHO data show

STILL RECOVERING

Meanwhile, other patients infected with monkeypox are still recovering, according to the DOH.

For the third monkeypox case, the 29-year-old Filipino is currently recuperating at home despite completing a 21-day isolation.

"Case is not yet declared as recovered since not all of the case’s upper torso and left forearm lesion scabs have dropped off yet," the DOH said.

"Status of lesions has not yet met the required lesion criteria for discharge from isolation. No additional rashes and symptoms were observed."

Of the patient's 17 close contacts, 1 is undergoing quarantine, 13 are doing self-monitoring and 3 have finished quarantine. All are asymptomatic to date.

For the fourth monkeypox case, the 25-year-old Filipino is recovering at a facility. The patient's rashes are drying up and no additional symptoms have been observed.

Of the patient's 20 close contacts, 4 are undergoing quarantine, 1 is doing self-monitoring, 1 is assisting the patient and 14 have finished quarantine. No one have developed symptoms of monkeypox.

• DOH: Fourth monkeypox case headed towards recovery

Watch more News on iWantTFC