Cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have spiked across Mindoro and neighboring provinces, with infections jumping more than 1,500 percent compared to last year, health authorities said.

Oriental Mindoro recorded 1,079 cases from January 2025 to early October 2025, making it the second-hardest hit province in the MIMAROPA region after Palawan, according to the Department of Health’s Center for Regional Epidemiology and Technology Enhancement.

In the five-province region, which includes Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, infections reached 5,405, or a 1,584-percent increase from the 321 cases recorded during the same period in 2024.

Palawan province accounted for nearly half the regional total with 2,421 cases, up 5,805 percent from just 41 cases last year.

Romblon logged 957 infections, Marinduque 713, and Occidental Mindoro 235.

No deaths have been reported from the outbreak.

In Palawan, the capital Puerto Princesa reported the most cases with 530, followed by the municipalities of Roxas with 207 and Brooke’s Point with 196.

Only the remote island municipality of Kalayaan has remained disease-free since 2024.

The highly contagious disease primarily affects children under five years old, causing fever, mouth sores, sore throat and distinctive rashes on the palms and soles of the feet. It spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces when infected people touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

Health officials urged the public to practice frequent handwashing, maintain good hygiene, eat nutritious food and avoid crowded places to reduce transmission.