First Monkeypox Infection Confirmed in the Philippines: "10 Infected and Close Contacts Quarantined"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Philippine health authorities have announced the first confirmed case of monkeypox infection in the Philippines. Ten close contacts of the confirmed patient have also been placed under quarantine.

According to Reuters on the 29th, the Philippine Department of Health stated that a citizen who recently returned from overseas travel tested positive earlier this month. The confirmed patient is 31 years old this year and is currently staying at home, while ten close contacts, including family members, have also been quarantined.

The Philippine Department of Health explained that the confirmed patient had traveled to countries where infection cases have been reported but did not disclose the patient's gender. Additionally, Beverly Ho, the Philippine Deputy Health Secretary, reported that none of the close contacts have shown symptoms so far. The Department of Health has established quarantine guidelines requiring confirmed monkeypox patients and their close contacts to isolate for 14 to 21 days.

So far, monkeypox infection cases have been reported in nearly 70 locations outside of Africa, with the total number of confirmed cases exceeding 20,000. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on the 23rd in response to the global spread of monkeypox infections.

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