QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) clarified on Tuesday that monkeypox is not classified as a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) and anyone can be infected by it.

In a press conference, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the monkeypox virus can be transmitted to anyone, through close or direct contact, so there is no reason to discriminate against people.

Instead, she said everyone should be careful and take necessary precautions not to be infected with such an illness.

"Anyone of us can get monkeypox, it's not just confined to that sector so we should all be careful," according to Vergeire.

"There is no reason for us to discriminate against anyone regarding this disease. Any of us can have this disease," added Vergeire.

The DOH initially reported that 95% of recorded cases of monkeypox worldwide were transmitted through sexual contact.

In the Philippines, the first case of monkeypox was recorded last Friday.

The 31-year-old patient has a travel history to a country that has already recorded cases of monkeypox.

He arrived in the country on July 19 and was confirmed to have contracted the disease on July 28.

According to Vergeire, the patient is still isolated and his condition is improving now.

She also said the patient experienced symptoms of the disease when he was abroad but it disappeared when he returned to the Philippines.

"When he came home, he didn't have any symptoms, but after a few days, his rashes came out," she said.

Vergeire also clarified that the Filipino who was recently confirmed to have monkeypox in Singapore is different from the patient who was detected with the disease in the Philippines.

"Different people, different dates of onset, different locations went to. The only thing is age," he said.

He said, for now they are still in contact with the authorities in Singapore regarding the patient's condition.

The only details they can provide at the moment is that he is also 31 years old and is not a tourist in that country.

Vergeire also assured once again that the Philippines has the ability to detect monkeypox.

He said among the symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, cough, joint and back pain, tonsillitis, and rashes near the face.

He said the rashes heal spontaneously within two to four weeks.

"Although the fatality rate is rare, there is a 10% chance if it hits, especially if you are immunocompromised," he said.

Vergeire also strongly reminded the public to stay strictly in compliance with health protocols against COVID-19 to avoid monkeypox as well. (PIA-NCR)