VIRUS. Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection of the monkeypox virus and usually occurs throughout Central and West Africa, often near tropical rain forests. As of May 20, 2022, the World Health Organization confirmed 80 cases across 11 countries. (Photo courtesy of UN) MANILA - President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday expressed hope that the monkeypox outbreak being reported mostly in Europe would not be as fatal as coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). In a prerecorded Talk to the People, Duterte requested Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Abdullah Dumama to explain how dangerous monkeypox is. Dumama said the mortality rate of the rare viral disease is only about one percent. "Mayroon din pong fatality ito, fatality rate na at least 1 point - ah 1 percent lamang po. Hindi naman ho ito gaanong ganoon ka-virulent at hindi ito nagbibigay ng malalang sakit, mahal na Pangulo (This has a fatality rate of at least 1 percent. It is not that virulent and cannot cause se
The Philippines and most of its regions remain under the minimal risk case classification against COVID-19 despite the reported local transmission of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1, the Department of Health said on Monday night.