DOH squashes claims of lockdown amid new mpox cases
The Department of Health has cautioned the public against fake news that the Philippines will go through a lockdown phase amid new monkeypox cases being recorded in the country.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the government agency asserted that it has not ordered a lockdown due to mpox, noting that the number of people affected by the disease has decreased this May compared to April.
"Patuloy ang Department of Health sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga Local Government Unit upang mabigyan ng tamang serbisyong medikal ang mga kumpirmado at hinihinalang kaso ng mpox," they stated.
"Mas marami pang Mpox nung 2024. Mas marami ring naitala nung Abril kaysa ngayong Mayo 2025. Nagkataon lamang na nagheheadline dahil aktibo at nagaanunsyo na ngayon ang mga LGU," they continued.
The DOH further noted that no cases of mpox Clade I-b have been recorded in the Philippines. This variant is considered to be more lethal than Clade II, which is the strain currently detected in the country.
"Wala pa ring Mpox Clade I-b na nakikita dito sa Pilipinas. Panay Clade II ang meron natin. Mas mababa ang mortality (pagkamatay) ng Clade II, nasa mga isa sa bawat sampu, kumpara sa apat hanggang lima ng Clade l-b," the agency said.
Since the virus is not airborne, the DOH stated that there is no need to impose a lockdown.
"Nagpapaalala ang DOH na huwag paniwalaan ang mga kumakakalat na pekeng Facebook post na may mapanlinlang na marketing strategy, pekeng endorsement mula sa mga eksperto, at hindi makatotohanang mga pahayag tungkol sa kalusugan," they urged.
In a press briefing, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa further explained that lockdowns are a "very extreme measure" and that it would not make sense to impose it for mpox.
"We used it during the pandemic. Mpox has to become a pandemic, which is not. Lockdown does not work for mpox because it is [transmitted through] skin-to-skin contact so if there is a lockdown, there could be more skin-to-skin contact," he said.
Moreover, since the cases are the milder clade II variants, Herbosa said that it "doesn’t necessitate a public health emergency of international concern."
"What falls under PHEIC is the mpox of Clade I-b variant. There is none (yet) recorded in the Philippines like that," he said.
They requested the public to monitor their official Facebook page for credible information.
Recent reports of mpox cases in Iloilo and six others in Davao City sparked sudden concern. However, Health Secretary Herbosa assured the public that there has been no increase in mpox this year, noting that fewer than 50 cases were detected in May, a decrease from April's figures.
Mpox is not a new disease as it has been in existence for several decades, with its first identification as a distinct illness in 1958.
Symptoms include fever, whether low-grade or moderate, as well as muscle pains and body aches. The most tell-tale sign, however, is the appearance of the skin rash.
Unlike COVID-19, which rapidly spread through the air in crowded areas starting in 2020, mpox is transmitted only through physical contact with an infected person or animal, or via contaminated materials.
If you want to know more about the disease, here's the truth about mpox and how is it actually transmitted. (with reports from Rhodina Villanueva)