BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Department of Health–Center for Health Development – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CHD-CAR) gave an orientation on Monkey Pox (Mpox) and Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) to the members of the Mountain Province Provincial Health Board (PHB) during the body’s first quarter meeting held at the Multi-Purpose Hall on February 19, 2025.
The discussion was facilitated by the Deputy IOC of the DOH-CHD-CAR Mpox Task Force, Clark P. Dizon. He defined Mpox as a disease that is caused by monkeypox virus, which is a part of the Genus Orthopoxvirus in the Poxviridae family. It is classified into two clades, Clade I and Clade II, with Clade II being milder and less risky for severe diseases than Clade I.
The symptoms of Mpox, according to him, include skin rash or mucosal lesions that can last for two to four weeks, fever or headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. In addition, Mpox can be transmitted through close and intimate contact like sexual intercourse, kissing, cuddling, hugging and other activities that involve skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual. The disease can also be transmitted through indirect contact like exposure to contaminated bedding, clothing, linens, utensils, needles and other shared objects.
In 2024, 74 confirmed cases of Mpox were recorded in the Philippines with one being in the CAR. As of February of this year, 2025, the confirmed Mpox case in CAR was raised to four (three males and one female).
In response to the alarming increase, the Dizon urged the members of the PHB, especially the municipal health officers and chiefs-of-hospital of the different hospitals, to establish an Mpox Preparedness and Response Plan. Moreover, Dizon suggested the following mechanisms: establishment of government mechanism such as activation of an Mpox Task Force and establishment of incident command center; maintaining a regular access and submitting an inventory report of Mpox capacities for testing, case management, and health workforce and resources such as PPEs, basic sanitation and IPC supplies; provision of risk communication and community mobilization activities; and conduct capacity building and information dissemination activities on DOH guidelines, detection, testing, and case and outbreak management.
Meanwhile, another alarming disease that the DOH-CAR is keeping an eye on is the HFMD, which according to Dizon, is a viral infection that is most common in young children. Symptoms of HFMD include fever, mouth sore, sore throat, and rashes on hands and feet.
Starting January 1 to February 7, 2025, the recorded case of HFMD in CAR is at 217 of which 28 is from Mountain Province. So far, no deaths have been reported.
Dizon pointed out that if the current situation of the province on HFMD remains the same without interventions, it could result in an HFMD outbreak. Therefore, he urged the PHB to double its effort in increasing awareness and understanding of HFMD and also in informing the general public to regularly practice proper hand washing, disinfect surfaces and shared objects, avoid close contact with those who are infected, and immediately seek medical attention when symptoms occur. By MP-PIO
