Now Mpox Is Likely Spread To At Least Seven Separate Nations... Latest: In The Philippines -- One Patient.

While the final DNA tests are not available yet -- as to whether this patient in the Philippines has contracted Clade Ib, or the less serious Clade II, it seems likely that we now have three separate cases, in countries outside of the African continent. Those would be Sweden, Pakistan, and Philippines -- with African nation appearances in DRC, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

While there is a vaccine, the central focus globally right now should be on awareness, and preventative public health in countries where Clade Ib has appeared. It seems the latest patient had no history of travel, but he may have simply met someone who had been to Africa recently, or someone who was from Africa. It further seems this strain is appearing primarily in males who have sexual contact with other males -- but the carrier factor, given that this Ib is fairly contagious, should not be discounted.

Here's the latest, from Reuters:

. . .The Philippines has detected a new case of the mpox virus in the country, the first since December last year, its health department said on Monday, adding it was awaiting test results before being able to determine the strain.

The patient was a 33-year-old Filipino male who had no travel history outside the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said. "We are awaiting sequencing results and will update once available," its spokesperson Albert Domingo said when asked about the strain. . . .

We must not let this become a "COVID II" global event. It is well within our collective grasp to prevent that -- arrest the outbreak, here and now. Onward -- grinning into a sunny, busy week, with baby-girls in tow tomorrow. Be excellent to one another.

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