BAGUIO CITY – Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases continue to rise among various areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as of 01 March 2025. A total of 438 cases have been recorded in the region,183% higher compared to the 155 recorded cases last year.
Based on the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR)’s Diseases Surveillance Update, the province with the highest record of cases of HFMD is the province of Benguet, with 154 cases as of March 2025. The majority (242 or 56%) of the affected cases were males between the ages of 5-month-old to 52 years old.
For other regions in Cordillera, the number of cases of HFMD in the Mountain Province reached 123, 81 cases recorded in Baguio City, 42 cases in Ifugao, 21 cases in Apayao, 12 cases in Kalinga, and 6 cases in Abra.
HFMD is a mild yet contagious viral infection caused by the viruses Coxsackievirus A16 and A6, viruses that belong to the non polio enterovirus family. The disease is commonly seen among young children and spread through person-to-person contact via bodily secretions such as saliva, nose secretions, fluid from blisters, stool, and respiratory droplets spread through coughing or sneezing.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, painful, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums, and inside of cheeks, and rashes on the palms, soles, or buttocks. The loss of appetite and fussiness among infants and toddlers are also symptoms of the disease.
There is no specific treatment for HFM, but it is highly advised to avoid close contact with people who have the disease, frequent handwashing, and drink plenty of fluids.
Engr. Benelyne M. Balag-ey from the Regional Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Statistics Unit of the Department of Health pressed the importance of health promotion and disease prevention, most especially against contagious diseases like HFM. “Since public health is not only our concern, it is everybody’s concern; lahat po sana tayo, kung mayroon po tayong nararamdaman o mayroon po tayong nakikitang mga naiibang sakit sa ating paligid, mainam po na i-report po natin sa ating health authorities, sa ating mga RHU’s ating mga health workers para maaga pong maagapan.” By Agnes Dela Peña
