The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) announced that the city has recorded its first confirmed case of monkeypox (mpox) in a press conference earlier today, May 28, 2025.
CHO head Dr. Mary Ann Diaz reported that, as of May 27, 2025, one case has been laboratory-confirmed, while four additional suspected cases are being closely monitored by the Iloilo City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.
Dr. Diaz added that the identified individuals are currently in isolation and receiving medical care, with all patients reported to be in stable condition.
Common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, intense headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and characteristic skin rashes.
The CHO is actively coordinating with allied health institutions to conduct case finding and contact tracing. All suspected and probable cases are undergoing specimen collection and laboratory testing through the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for confirmation.
Dr. Diaz assured the public that there is no evidence of widespread community transmission and that the confirmed case has no recent travel history.
βSince we now have one confirmed case, it is important to observe proper hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap, and use alcohol-based sanitizers,β Dr. Diaz advised.
βAvoid crowded places to minimize skin-to-skin contact. If symptoms appear, we strongly recommend seeking early medical consultation and self-isolating to prevent the spread of infection,β she added.
The CHO will soon release official advisories outlining preventive measures and precautions to help residents avoid infection. (Janelle Marie Berlarde/Iloilo City PIO)
