People wear face masks as a precaution against airborne viruses during Friday mass at the Quiapo church in Manila on August 23, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The number of mpox or monkeypox cases in the country has risen to 15, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Health Undersecretary Gloria Balboa announced this during the Metro Manila Council meeting held at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by local chief executives and representatives from various cities in Metro Manila.

Balboa stated that the new case, confirmed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on September 9, comes from the National Capital Region.

Of the fifteen cases, eleven are from Metro Manila, three from Calabarzon, and one from Cagayan Valley.

Fourteen of the cases are male, while one is female. The reported cases range in age from twelve to forty-one years old.

READ: What we know about the mpox outbreak

READ: Virtual sex only? DOH clarifies advice on avoiding mpox

“This is not alarming unlike po COVID-19, kaso hindi naman airborne, hindi nandiyan lang sa hangin. This one is skin to skin close intimate contact ang kanyang mode of transmission,” Balboa explained.

(This is not as alarming as COVID-19 because it is not airborne; it doesn't spread through the air. This one is transmitted through skin-to-skin close intimate contact.)

She also reminded the public to maintain personal hygiene to avoid mpox.

“Iyong ating universal precautionary measures, yung disinfection ng mga contaminated surfaces, hand washing with sanitizers or even just the plain soap and water. Iyong ating proper way of washing our hands can kill po the virus,” she said.

(Our universal precautionary measures, such as disinfecting contaminated surfaces, hand washing with sanitizers, or even just plain soap and water, are important. Proper handwashing can kill the virus.)

Meanwhile, San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council President Francis Zamora urged the DOH to conduct a widespread information campaign against the disease.

“Kung puwede, madalaw ng DOH ang aming mga LGU. Patawag tayo mga mayor ng townhall meetings kung saan nandoon ang ating mga barangay officials, kagawad, barangay health workers at ating city health officers para lang po malaman ng ating mga mamamayan,” he said.

(If possible, we request that the DOH visit our local government units. The mayors can hold town hall meetings to be attended by barangay officials, council members, barangay health workers, and city health officers.)

RELATED VIDEO: