The Philippines has documented two further instances of monkeypox, bringing the total number of cases to three, according to the Department of Health on Friday. According to the DOH, the latest individuals, aged 34 and 29, had recently traveled to countries with known monkeypox infections. On August 18 and 19, they both tested positive for monkeypox.

Contact tracing is underway, according to health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.

On July 29, the Philippines reported its first case of monkeypox, involving a Filipino tourist who had arrived from a place where monkeypox outbreaks had been reported.

The patient has subsequently recovered, while ten close contacts reported no concerns and were released from isolation on August 16. More than 35,000 cases of monkeypox have been documented in 92 countries, according to the World Health Organization. Monkeypox has traditionally been prevalent in Central and Western Africa, but outbreaks have occurred worldwide since May.

The majority of infections worldwide were transferred through sexual behavior. Other ways include direct contact or touching products or textiles used by a disease-infected person.

Over the course of 5 days, the initial signs of monkeypox include fever, headaches, muscular discomfort, and back pain. Rashes form on the face, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet, followed by lesions, patches, and eventually scabs.

In July, the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox epidemic a worldwide health emergency.