THE Bangsamoro health ministry confirmed two mpox (monkeypox) cases in Maguindanao del Norte this week and is monitoring six other potential infections, officials said Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
The two recovered patients are a 59-year-old woman from Sultan Kudarat and a 28-year-old woman from Datu Odin Sinsuat, according to Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, Health Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“Contact tracing is underway for their recent close contacts,” he said during an online briefing.
Six suspected cases — three from Cotabato City and one each from Sultan Kudarat, Parang, and Datu Montawal — are undergoing confirmatory testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila.
“All are cooperating with health protocols while we await the results,” Sinolinding added.
The ministry urged residents to report any potential symptoms immediately, emphasizing that early detection helps prevent transmission. (Philippines News Agency)