Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo clarified on Monday, June 2, that wearing facemasks helps prevent many diseases but does not protect against mpox.
Domingo emphasized that the Department of Health (DOH) does not recommend face masks for mpox prevention despite increased demand.
Surgical masks currently retail for P1 to P8 apiece, while N95 masks range from P45 to P105. He urged retailers not to exploit the mpox situation as a reason to increase prices.
Some local government units (LGUs) require people to wear face masks. However, Domingo explained that mpox spreads mainly through close, skin-to-skin contact, not through airborne transmission.
He acknowledged the good intentions behind mask mandates but emphasized that they do not effectively prevent mpox transmission. He urged LGUs to work closely with the DOH and adopt health protocols tailored to how the disease actually spreads.
Experts from the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases clarified that mpox does not spread through the air in enclosed spaces like rooms, marketplaces, or planes, unlike COVID-19.
They advised that mandatory mask-wearing in these places remains unnecessary and does not effectively prevent mpox transmission.
The monkeypox virus causes mpox. People transmit it by coughing, sneezing, or touching contaminated objects. They also spread the virus by touching surfaces contaminated with material from mpox lesions, such as shared towels or bed linens.
People mainly transmit mpox through direct skin-to-skin contact with blisters and scabs, including oral, vaginal, or anal sex, kissing, cuddling, and holding hands.
An infected person can spread mpox from the onset of symptoms until the rashes heal completely.
The DOH logged 911 mpox cases from January last year to May this year. However, it focuses on monthly figures, reporting fewer than 50 cases in May, slightly higher than the cases in April.
The health department clarified that the country does not have an mpox outbreak. It attributed the recent increase in mpox-related news to LGUs actively reporting cases.
Domingo viewed this development positively, saying LGUs now better identify and screen suspected mpox patients. They refer patients with lesions for testing instead of dismissing their symptoms.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.