Monkeypox originated from rodents, and is called such because its first case was an isolated monkey in Africa. Its symptoms include flu-like indicators: fever or chills, cough or sore throat, stuffed or runny nose, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, followed by rashes similar to chicken pox (Johns Hopkins, 2022). There are currently two types: clade I and clade II, the former known to be more infectious and more fatal (Tomiyoshi, 2024). There have been a total of more than 102,000 clade II mpox cases worldwide since 2022, with more than 220 reported deaths (CDC, 2025). As of 19th of January, 2025, the first officially recorded local case was detected in Baguio (GMA News, 2025).
To Avoid It, Understand How It Spreads
- Through bodily fluids (Tosh, 2024)
- Through skin to skin or mouth to mouth contact (WHO, nd)
- Through contact with fabrics or objects that have been contaminated by the mpox virus (Tosh, 2024)
- Avoid contact with body fluids – Mpox spreads through saliva, blood, and other secretions, so steer clear of sharing personal items and practice proper hand hygiene. Disinfect surfaces that may have been infected with bodily fluids to avoid the spread of the virus.
- Limit skin-to-skin or mouth-to-mouth contact – Close contact, such as hugging or kissing, can transmit the virus, so be cautious and maintain safe personal boundaries.Limit unnecessary physical contact especially with strangers.
- Be cautious with fabrics and objects – The virus can survive on clothing, towels, and surfaces, so avoid sharing items and ensure proper cleaning and disinfection. Wash anything that might be contaminated by the virus.
- Practice social distancing, wear a facemask in public areas, and carry rubbing alcohol – these are good travel and public space precautions, especially in high-risk areas. As much as possible, avoid crowded areas.
Along with these precautions– practicing social distancing, prioritizing personal hygiene, and getting vaccinated– there is also emphasis on eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, managing stress well, and taking supplementary vitamins to stay healthy and to keep the immune system strong.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, January 15). Ongoing clade II Mpox global outbreak. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/outbreaks/2022/index-1.html
News, G. I. (2025, January 19). Baguio Records its first mpox case. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/933397/baguio-records-its-first-mpox-case/story/
Tomiyoshi, T. (2024, September 4). What you need to know about the latest mpox outbreak. news. https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-latest-mpox-outbreak/2024/09#:~:text=Mpox%20clade%201%20is%20believed,questions%20about%20this%20latest%20outbreak.
Tosh, P. (2024, October 5). What is mpox, previously called Monkeypox, how does it spread and how can it be prevented?. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/expert-answers/monkeypox-faq/faq-20533608#:~:text=The%20virus%20can%20spread%20from,of%20a%20person%20with%20mpox.
What you need to know about Monkeypox. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2022). https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/what-you-need-to-know-about-monkeypox
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mpox. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/mpox