DAVAO CITY (June 4) – Seven of the 11 HIV-positive patients recently admitted to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao Region have also tested positive for mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, hospital chief Dr. Ricardo Audan confirmed on Wednesday.
Most of the co-infected patients are male. Since April 10, SPMC has recorded 14 mpox cases—seven of whom have already been discharged.
Dr. Audan clarified that face masks are not required to prevent mpox, as it is not airborne. However, he encouraged mask use in crowded settings as a precaution.
“There’s no need to panic—no lockdowns, and no mandatory measures,” he assured the public.
Should cases rise, SPMC is prepared, with dedicated personnel, medication, and a nine-bed isolation room equipped with negative pressure for mpox patients.
Mpox symptoms include rash, fever, headache, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash often evolves from flat spots to blisters that scab over. via PNA
