CEBU CITY, Philippines – Health officials have confirmed at least three mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) cases across the Visayas region, with one confirmed case each in Talisay City (Cebu), Iloilo City, and Iloilo province. The reports have prompted local health authorities to heighten surveillance and public information campaigns, even as one confirmed mpox patient in Talisay City succumbed to a separate illness.

Confirmed cases and investigations 

In Talisay City, Cebu, Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas confirmed on Thursday that the city recorded its first mpox case. The patient tested positive for the virus and had been isolated early, limiting the need for extensive contact tracing. While the patient later died, Mayor Gullas clarified on Facebook that mpox was not the direct cause of death, stating the patient suffered complications from another illness. He assured the public that the patient had been quarantined according to Department of Health (DOH) protocols and had no contact with others. 

Iloilo City also detected its first mpox case, with Dr. Mary Ann Diaz, City Health Office chief, reporting active case-finding and contact tracing. The patient in Iloilo City had no history of travel to areas with confirmed cases, leading to an investigation into potential local transmission. Four other close contacts in Iloilo City are currently under monitoring. 

Iloilo province has also confirmed an mpox case. Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, stated that this patient is under home isolation. Nine close contacts have been identified and are also in isolation, none of whom are showing symptoms. Dr. Quiñon urged the public to remain calm and adhere to health advisories. 

Monitoring and prevention efforts 

Beyond confirmed cases, health officials are monitoring suspected mpox infections. In Mandaue City, Cebu, City Health Officer Dr. Debra Catulong reported monitoring a suspected case exhibiting lesions, a common mpox symptom. They are awaiting confirmatory test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). The patient is currently isolated, and regional health officials are investigating. 

Conversely, three individuals in Lapu-Lapu City who were suspected of having mpox tested negative for the virus. The city currently has one suspected case under monitoring. 

Across the region, local governments are intensifying efforts to inform the public about mpox prevention and control. Officials emphasize the importance of early consultation and isolation for anyone exhibiting symptoms to prevent further spread. 

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads primarily through close contact, including skin-to-skin contact, exposure to body fluids, or respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated materials. Common symptoms include a rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease, first identified in 1970, saw a wider global spread from 2022, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare its highest level of alert in 2024.