More severe mpox variant reaching PH 'only a matter of time', experts say

Colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (green) cultivated and purified from cell culture. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. NIAID

MANILA — Following the confirmation of Clade Ib of mpox in Thailand last Thursday, experts in the Philippines say that it will only be a matter of time before it reaches the country.

Clade 1b is currently driving the rise of infections in central Africa, prompting the World Health Organization to consider it a public health emergency of international concern yet again.

Tracers face challenges in reaching close contacts of new mpox patient

In an interview, Department of Health spokesperson Albert Domingo encouraged the public to remain vigilant even if the variant believed to cause a more severe disease has not yet found its way in the country.

 “Ngayon pa lang, huwag po tayo maging parang papetiks-petiks just because Clade II [ang nasa bansa] (Let us not be complacent just because the milder Clade II is what we have in the country). We can delay it as long as we can, but it will probably reach us,” he said.

The DOH recently announced that the latest case of mpox in the country is infected by Clade II – the same type that caused the rapid rise in infections in 2022. This is seen to cause less severe disease with 99.9% of cases surviving.

Mpox epidemic disinformation debunked

Despite the outbreak being confined in the African continent so far, the World Health Organization says all countries must increase public awareness as it is after a global health emergency.

 "Cover those lesions if you have lesions. The other thing is someone has lesions, if they are symptomatic, to avoid having sex. Because if we know they’re in the sexual networks, then that is one way. Sexual transmission is one way in which the mpox virus is spread between people. If you have mpox yourself, avoid contact with others," said WHO’s Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.

She adds the risk of mpox causing severe disease remains to be people among vulnerable populations.

“Mainly people who have underlying conditions, immunocompromised individuals if they are infected with the mpox virus, may have worse outcomes. This is really important in HIV populations, in populations that are immunosuppressed that you know, if the virus is circulating near you, what you can do to prevent yourself from getting infected and where you can seek care."

 Meanwhile, infectious diseases specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante does not see mpox causing the same massive disruption as COVID-19 back in 2020. However, he maintained that the lessons learned in the last couple of years would prove beneficial if the public still practiced them today.

 “The problem now is people are so complacent with the minimum health protocol. Our advice is to always observe the minimum health protocol especially if you are high-risk. Because these are the people that can be in danger of getting the infection more and getting the more severe form of these infections,” Solante said.

 He added while the country is better prepared to deal with illnesses coupled with more available information about the mpox virus, it remains important for the government to “allocate funding for diagnostics and for reinforcing Hospital capability to diagnose patient and to manage impacts.