The Department of Health (DOH) has refuted claims of a nationwide lockdown being implemented due to the mpox disease.
The agency issued this clarification following the spread of false Facebook posts regarding a supposed lockdown prompted by the illness.
Health spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo explained that a lockdown is unnecessary because mpox is not airborne and does not spread through the air like COVID-19.
According to the DOH official, the number of mpox cases recorded in 2024 was still higher compared to the current year.
He further noted that more cases were recorded in April than in May 2025.
ASec. Domingo attributed the current mpox cases to the active reporting of detected cases by local government units in their respective jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, ASec. Domingo clarified that the Clade 1B variant of mpox, which has been detected in other countries, has not yet entered or been detected in the Philippines.
He stated that the commonly detected variant is Clade II, a milder form of mpox with a lower mortality rate of about 1 in 10 infected individuals, compared to Clade 1B, which has a reported fatality rate of 4 to 5.
In light of this, the DOH continues to urge the public to refer only to the official DOH Facebook page for accurate health information.
Currently, according to ASec. Domingo, there have been a total of 911 mpox cases in the Philippines since 2024.
He mentioned that in September 2024, there were 200 mpox cases, including suspected and probable cases, but the number of confirmed cases was less than 10 or 20.
This year, the recorded cases in May are less than 50, compared to over 50 cases in April.
Despite this, ASec. Domingo stated that mpox is a self-limiting illness that typically resolves within 2 to 3 weeks.
The official also said there is no harm in wearing face masks, as implemented by some LGUs, to prevent the disease. However, he clarified that mpox is transmitted through close contact or skin-to-skin contact, so the precautions implemented should be based on how the disease spreads.
The DOH urges local government units to coordinate with the agency to assess the necessary precautions to prevent the transmission of the disease.
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Headline: DOH Debunks Mpox Lockdown Rumors