Dont’t panic on suspected Mpox cases

HEALTH authorities in Cebu are urging the public to remain vigilant but avoid panic as three cities across the province report suspected cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), a contagious viral disease that, while typically mild, requires prompt isolation and medical attention.

The cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are monitoring suspected mpox infections.

Mandaue City is observing one individual under home isolation, while Lapu-Lapu City has one suspected case in home quarantine and has also cleared three other individuals after they tested negative for the virus.

In Talisay City, one person who tested positive for mpox later died from complications of a pre-existing illness, not the virus itself, according to officials.

Health officials reiterated public health protocols amid heightened surveillance.

Residents are advised to wear masks, wash hands frequently, avoid crowded places and practice strict personal hygiene.

Any person experiencing symptoms such as rashes, fever, or body aches is urged to immediately seek medical consultation and isolate at home if lesions appear.

Talisay’s confirmed case

In Talisay City, Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. confirmed on Thursday, May 29, 2025, the city’s first recorded case of mpox, a viral illness that when severe can cause bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain infection), myocarditis (heart inflammation) and eye infections that may cause vision loss

However, Gullas clarified that the patient, who has since died, did not succumb to the virus itself but to complications from another illness.

“Ang hinungdan sa iyang kamatayon kay iyahang gipamati nga sakit ug dili ang mpox (the cause of his death was his existing illness, not mpox),” Gullas said in a statement posted on social media.

While withholding further details pending clearance from the Department of Health (DOH), Gullas assured the public that the situation is under control and that mpox is a manageable disease with proper care and quarantine.

According to the World Health Organizaiton (WHO), there is no specific cure for mpox; treatment is supportive, focusing on symptom relief, hydration, nutrition and preventing secondary infections.

Suspected cases

In Mandaue City, one suspected case has been placed under home isolation.

City Health Officer Dr. Debra Catulong said the patient, a 39-year-old male with no recent travel history outside Cebu, sought medical help after developing skin lesions.

He was immediately isolated and provided with a medical and food kit.

Specimen samples have been collected and sent to the Department of Health 7, which will forward them to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for confirmatory testing.

“We’re not yet confirming the case, but we are taking every precaution. The patient did the right thing by isolating immediately,” Catulong said.

Catulong emphasized the importance of early isolation, consultation and observing proper hygiene, noting that mpox spreads through skin-to-skin contact, body fluids, contaminated objects, and in some cases, from mother to child during childbirth.

“Let’s not panic. What’s important is that we practice what we learned from Covid. If you see lesions or feel symptoms, isolate and consult a doctor right away,” she said.

Catulong added that mpox is generally a mild viral illness, but it may worsen in individuals with comorbidities or weakened immune systems.

The virus typically incubates over 5 to 21 days, with symptoms lasting up to four weeks.

Preventive care remains key: hand hygiene, face masks and physical distancing remain effective tools in curbing the spread.

There is no specific treatment for mpox, but supportive care rest, hydration and over-the-counter pain relief is advised.

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City reported one suspected case of mpox involving a male resident with no travel history, according to City Health Office head Dr. Agnes Realiza.

A report from the City Epidemiology and Surveillance states that the 27-year-old patient is under home quarantine and is exhibiting symptoms such as fever, rashes and muscle pain.

Realiza said confirmatory test results are pending as of Thursday afternoon.

She also reported that three residents (two females and one male), aged 20-35 years old, showed symptoms similar to the viral infection; however, the confirmatory test results came out negative and said that the individuals’ conditions were caused by a different viral infection.

Meanwhile, Bohol has yet to record any cases, but its Provincial Health Office (PHO) has issued an advisory calling for heightened surveillance.

The PHO also instructed all rural health units, hospitals and local facilities to step up information drives focused on early detection, isolation and prompt reporting.

The WHO said monkeypox is caused by the orthopoxvirus which belongs to the same family of viruses responsible for the much deadlier and now-eradicated smallpox.

Researchers first identified mpox from a group of captive research African monkeys in 1958. Based on an entry from the John Hopkins University, these monkeys were also found in the tropical rainforests of Central and West African countries.

In 1972, scientists reported the first human case among individuals living at the edge of the rainforests, confirming it as a zoonotic disease which meant it can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Mpox virus has two types: clade I which causes more severe illness and deaths, and clade II that causes less severe infections.

The most recent global outbreak for mpox began in 2022, caused by clade II. / CAV, DPC