MANILA, Aug. 28, (Xinhua): The Philippines has detected two new monkeypox (mpox) cases, bringing the total number of active mpox cases in the country to five, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

Philippine Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the new cases include a 26-year-old female from Metro Manila and a 12-year-old male from a region south of Manila. Both patients are recovering at home. Like the three mpox patients the DOH reported earlier, Herbosa said the new patients have the milder MPXV clade ll.

"The initial investigation is consistent with earlier findings regarding the local transmission of clade ll. Details are being verified regarding how close and intimate skin-to-skin contact may have occurred," Herbosa added. "Heightened surveillance leads to a flashlight effect. Our people become more aware, and we detect more cases," he said. With the new detection of mpox cases, the Philippines has now tallied 14 cases since July 2022.

"Nine cases have long recovered since 2023. Five are active cases waiting for symptoms to resolve," DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said. Domingo said the DOH continues tracing the people who have close contact with the active patients. Enditem