Health authorities in Oriental Mindoro province issued a public advisory Saturday warning residents about monkeypox transmission as the country continues to monitor a recent spike in cases across several provinces and cities.

The Provincial Health Office of Oriental Mindoro released Public Health Advisory No. 2, urging residents to remain vigilant against the viral infection known as mpox, which has infected 52 people nationwide since July 2022 with no recorded deaths.

According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infection that primarily spreads through close physical contact, including skin-to-skin contact, contact with contaminated surfaces, clothing, and respiratory droplets.

The health advisory identified major symptoms including fever, distinctive skin rashes with blisters on the face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth, and genitals lasting 2-4 weeks, headache, body weakness, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle pain.

Oriental Mindoro Provincial Health Officer II Cielo Angela A. Ante stressed prevention measures including body cleanliness, frequent handwashing with soap, regular disinfection of surfaces and contaminated items, avoiding sharing personal items, proper waste segregation, mouth and nose covering when coughing or sneezing, and seeking immediate medical attention when symptoms appear.

The advisory also stressed avoiding crowded places and maintaining social distancing protocols.

Recent data shows Mindanao experienced a surge in May 2025, with South Cotabato reporting 11 cases as of May 26, 2025 including five recoveries. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region recorded two confirmed cases in Sultan Kudarat and Datu Odin Sinsuat, with six suspected cases under observation.

Zamboanga Peninsula reported multiple cases, including a recovered 3-year-old in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and a second case in Zamboanga City, where five suspected cases remain under investigation.

In the Visayas region, Iloilo reported its first cases on May 28 – one each in Iloilo City and Iloilo Province. Health officials are monitoring four suspected cases in the city and nine close contacts in the province who are in home isolation. Cebu has recorded one confirmed case with two suspected cases in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities.

Luzon saw Baguio City report its first case on May 20, while Metro Manila and Calabarzon documented cases earlier in 2024.

So far, no reported mpox case has been reported in MIMAROPA region.

All confirmed Philippine cases involve the milder Clade II variant, with no detection of the more severe Clade I or Clade Ib strains. The virus spreads through close, intimate, or skin-to-skin contact rather than airborne transmission.

Health authorities are conducting RT-PCR testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and Philippine Genome Center, implementing contact tracing, and maintaining isolation protocols for confirmed cases and their contacts.

Some local government units, including Polomolok and Cagayan de Oro, have mandated mask-wearing for health personnel and encouraged public use as a precautionary measure.

The DOH is negotiating with the United States for access to mpox-specific vaccines, as none are currently approved in the Philippines. Smallpox vaccines are being considered for high-risk groups.

Health officials note that avoiding stigma to encourage early reporting and intervention, particularly as the source of recent infections in some areas like Iloilo remains unclear, suggesting possible local transmission chains.

The May 12, 2025 elections may have contributed to the Mindanao spread due to crowd gatherings, according to health analysts.

Residents showing symptoms are advised to immediately consult healthcare centers or hospitals and contact the Provincial Health Office-Oriental Mindoro for guidance.

Examples of monkeypox rashes in different stages (photo credit: Courtesy of UK Health Security Agency)