MANILA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The number of active mpox cases in the Philippines has risen to 14 as the country detected six new cases, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

All new active cases carry the less severe strain clade II and no patient has died from the infectious viral disease.

"Despite continued community transmission, the DOH can manage mpox clade II," DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said.

With the new mpox cases, Domingo said the Philippines has now tallied 23 cases since July 2022.

"We anticipate more positive mpox cases because we are testing as fast and broadly as possible. Increasing case counts does not mean increasing infections," Philippine Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa told a news conference.

He said that the Philippines does not plan to impose "border control or community quarantine or lockdowns" similar to those imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Aug. 14, the World Health Organization declared mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern following the surge of cases in several parts of Africa. Enditem

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