Baguio City logs second Mpox case; no travel history outside PH

Baguio City, Philippines – The second recorded Mpox (formerly known Monkeypox) case in Baguio City has no travel history outside the country, according to the City Health Services Office.

One week since the first Mpox case in the city completed his isolation and recovered, the Baguio CHSO revealed they detected another case - a 22-year-old with no history of travel outside the Philippines but ‘with close contact, two weeks before the onset of symptoms’.

In a press release on Saturday, January 25, the CHSO disclosed that the second case was reported to the Department of Health on January 18 and that the patient had flu-like symptoms with body malaise, chills, fatigue, and distinct rashes.

The 22-year-old was discharged from the hospital on January 21, and he went directly for home isolation. His two identified close contacts who are asymptomatic were also advised to undergo home quarantine.

With the detection of two Mpox cases in Baguio City, City Health Officer, Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes told the public not to panic, reminding them that what they need is to practice health protocols such as frequent handwashing, wearing face masks, and physical distancing, particularly in crowded and enclosed places. 

“There is no need for panic. We just have to do frequent hand-washing, use long sleeves or jackets, avoid exposure to crowds as Mpox can be contracted through skin contact or through contaminated things such as bedding, towels, and the like,” she was quoted saying.

As of December 2024, the Philippines monitored a total of 52 Mpox cases.