The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Monday the country’s first case of Mpox in a minor, a 12-year-old boy from the CALABARZON region, raising concerns about the virus’s spread beyond adult populations.

CALABARZON, a region adjacent to Metro Manila comprising the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, has not previously reported Mpox cases in children.

The case was one of two new Mpox infections announced by the DOH, with the other being a 26-year-old woman from Metro Manila.

Health officials noted that neither patient had traveled outside the Philippines in the three weeks before symptom onset, suggesting possible local transmission within CALABARZON and the capital region.

“This development in CALABARZON is significant as it indicates the virus may be circulating in communities outside Metro Manila,” said a DOH spokesperson. “We are closely monitoring the situation, particularly in pediatric populations.”

The DOH did not specify which CALABARZON province the child is from, citing privacy concerns. Local health units in the region have been alerted to increase surveillance and contact tracing efforts.

These new cases bring the total number of confirmed Mpox infections in the Philippines to five.

Health authorities are urging residents of CALABARZON and other regions to remain vigilant and report any suspicious symptoms promptly.