The Department of Health-SOCCSKSARGEN (DOH-12) has confirmed that the region has recorded two cases of monkeypox (mpox) Clade II.

DOH-12 said one of the patients is from South Cotabato while the other is from Cotabato.

The patients have already been discharged and are now in stable condition.

However, the patients were advised to follow isolation protocols at their respective homes for 21 days.

All close contacts of the patients were also placed under quarantine. They have not shown symptoms of mpox, as of this writing.

DOH-12 explained that patients infected with mpox Clade II variant can recover even without hospital admission.

“Ang MPOX kasi natin is a self-limiting viral infection. Nakakapag-recover yung patient natin kahit hindi natin i-admit. Yung mga dalawang confirmed cases natin , they are all stable. They are recovered,” DOH-12 Regional Emerging and Re-emerging Disease Medical Coordinator Infectious Disease Cluster, Dr. Charmaine Pearl Cedeño, said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that this disease can be acquired through direct contact with body fluids or skin-to-skin contact, including touching the rash or hives of a person who has it.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms of mpox include skin rash or mucosal lesions, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

“For signs and symptoms, katung butlig-butlig nga nagapanggawas sa lawas  sa atung patient, painful ang iyang lesion, next hilanat, headache, sakit sa lawas and naay magtubo nga kulani, mahubag ang ilang lymph nodes,” Cedeño added.

(With reports from GMA News Online)