The Philippines recently reported its first local case of Mumps without any travel history, raising concerns about the spread of the disease in the region. This development comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mumps as an “international concern for public health emergency.” The 33-year-old male patient from Manila had no recent history of travel abroad but had close contact with someone three weeks before showing symptoms. The strain of the virus is still awaiting confirmation through testing.
The Mumps virus has two strains, with the West African strain (Clade II) having a lower mortality rate of less than 1%, and the Central African strain (Clade I) having a higher mortality rate of approximately 3.5% to 4%. Sweden reported the first case of the Central African strain outside of Africa on August 15. The male patient in the Philippines started experiencing fever a week ago, followed by a rash on his face, back, neck, trunk, groin, palms, and soles of his feet four days later. According to Assistant Health Secretary Albert Francis Domingo, the rash initially appeared as small blisters, which later turned into pus unlike chickenpox.
Health Secretary Teddy Herbosa confirmed that the patient had not traveled internationally, indicating that the virus is already present within the country, negating the need for border controls similar to those implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines has reported a total of nine Mumps cases in 2023, with all patients opting for home isolation and recovering after care. Domingo noted that patients reported itching or pain with the rash, along with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, malaise, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Diagnosing Mumps involves PCR testing of skin lesions. Over the past week, the Philippines Department of Health received reports of five suspected Mumps patients, with only one confirmed case. Confirmed patients can choose to isolate at home or in a hospital, with scab shedding typically occurring within 2 to 4 weeks. None of the close contacts of the nine previous patients were infected. The Health Department emphasized that Mumps is spread through close contact and advised the public to wash hands frequently while focusing on making Mumps diagnosis more convenient and rapid.
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam has reported 202 Mumps cases and eight deaths since September 2022, with the highest numbers in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern provinces. Of the 199 confirmed cases in southern Vietnam, which included the eight fatalities, all were male aged 18 to 53, with 46% being males aged 30 to 39. Eighty-four percent of the confirmed cases reported being men who have sex with men, with 55% also being HIV-positive and 7% receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.
Vietnam’s Health Ministry issued urgent directives to local authorities and medical facilities to enhance Mumps monitoring at localities and border checkpoints following WHO’s declaration. They also integrated HIV prevention efforts, particularly in gynecology, dermatology, and other relevant medical settings. In neighboring countries, Singapore has diagnosed Mumps cases with the milder West African strain, primarily occurring during the global outbreaks in 2022 and 2023. Despite no direct flights between Singapore and African countries reporting dangerous strains, Health Minister Wang Yikang emphasized the inevitability of Mumps entering the country and urged heightened vigilance.
Indonesia reported 14 Mumps cases this year and 73 cases last year, with authorities focusing on preventing the entry of the Central African strain. International travelers entering Indonesia are required to fill out health and travel history questionnaires before arrival. Malaysia reported nine Mumps cases since July last year, with no deaths. To prevent the global spread of the disease, the Malaysian Health Ministry announced monitoring of travelers from countries with reported Mumps cases for 21 days, recommending testing at designated laboratories for those with rash or blister symptoms.
Myanmar’s Health Minister stated no Mumps cases have been detected within the country this year and committed to strengthening prevention and border control measures according to WHO guidelines. The Southeast Asian countries are on high alert, recognizing the importance of early detection, containment, and prevention measures to curb the spread of Mumps.
Conclusion
As Mumps cases continue to rise in Southeast Asia, countries are tightening border controls and enhancing monitoring efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. With the WHO declaring Mumps as a public health emergency, it is crucial for governments to collaborate, implement effective prevention strategies, and prioritize the health and safety of their populations. Public awareness, early detection, and proper management of Mumps cases are essential in combating the outbreak and protecting the well-being of communities across the region.