THE Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) and the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO) confirmed one case each of monkeypox (mpox) in Iloilo City and Iloilo province, respectively, as of May 27, 2025.
Dr. Mary Ann Diaz, CHO head, said in a press conference on May 28, 2025, that Iloilo City has its first confirmed mpox case, while four suspected cases are under close monitoring.
“Since we now have one confirmed case, it is important to observe proper hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap, and use alcohol-based sanitizers,” Diaz said.
She recommended avoiding crowded areas, minimizing skin-to-skin contact, seeking early medical consultation if symptoms appear, and self-isolation to prevent infection spread.
Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, PHO chief, also confirmed the province’s first mpox case this year, following lab results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
The patient is currently recovering from a recent illness and is currently in home isolation. Nine close contacts have also been identified and are also undergoing home isolation.
Both cases have been laboratory-confirmed by RITM.
The Iloilo City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and the PHO are conducting contact tracing and monitoring the health of suspected cases.
The city patient is in stable condition and receiving medical care, while the provincial patient is recovering at home. In both cases, there is no evidence of community transmission, and neither patient has a travel history.
The CHO is coordinating with allied health institutions for continued surveillance, specimen collection, and testing.
The PHO, on the other hand, continues to strengthen its disease monitoring efforts to support timely response and containment.
Official health advisories are expected to be released soon by the CHO to inform residents of safety measures.
Common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, intense headaches, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and skin rashes.
The public was urged to remain calm, practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary close contact, and report symptoms promptly.
In 2022, the province also recorded one case of monkeypox. This year’s new cases bring renewed attention to the need for community awareness, preparedness, and personal precautionary practices. (Leo Solinap)