Baguio heightens mpox monitoring amid Panagbenga festivities

The Baguio City Health Service Office is working closely with concerned government agencies and establishments to prevent the spread of mpox amid the Panagbenga festivities.

In a statement released Tuesday, the city health service office said these government agencies and establishments include the City Tourism Council, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, accommodation providers, food businesses, spas, gyms, salons, laundry shops, and transport hubs.

“Panagbenga organizers assure the public that festival activities are proceeding as scheduled, with heightened coordination between health authorities and event organizers to ensure safety for all attendees,” it said.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Donnabel Panes, city health service medical officer, said specific public health advisories were given to each establishment to help them prevent the spread of mpox.

The 2025 Panagbenga Festival runs from February 1 to March 2. 

Mpox is a zoonotic disease (transmitted to humans from animals) that transmits through close physical contact and typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and is usually mild but can kill.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), human-to-human mpox transmission is possible through direct contact with skin or mucosal lesions like talking or breathing, kissing, touching, hugging, or sexual intercourse, and also through respiratory secretions.

The city health service office said it strengthened its mpox monitoring after confirming two additional cases, bringing the total number of infectious cases to four.

The infections of the new cases were caused by the less severe Clade II mpox virus type.

They are currently under home isolation until February 16 and 14, respectively, while close contacts were asymptomatic but were advised to undergo routine health monitoring for 21 days.

The city health service office urged the public to practice proper hygiene, avoid close skin-to-skin contact, wear protective clothing in crowded areas, seek medical consultation and stay at home if mpox symptoms manifest.

Baguio recorded its first mpox case on January 19 , followed by another case on January 25. —LDF, GMA Integrated News

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=934293785495332&set=pb.100067441570787.-2207520000&type=3