The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Talisay City in Cebu Province confirmed its first case of monkeypox (Mpox) on Thursday, May 29, 2025, while the Mandaue City Health Department disclosed of one suspected case of Mpox in the city.
The patient in Talisay City already died, but the LGU said that monkeypox is not the cause of death.
Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas issued a clarification on the alleged Mpox-related death.
“I’ve received reports circulating about a supposed Mpox related death in our city. I would like to clarify that while the patient did test positive for Mpox, the cause of death was not Mpox,” Gullas said.
He said that the patient was stricken with another ailment.
“Naa lay lain gipamati ang patient which was the actual cause of death. Kini buot pasabot, ang hinungdan sa iyang kamatayon kay iyahang gipamati nga sakit ug dili ang Mpox,” Gullas added.
Further, the mayor said that the patient was placed immediately under quarantine and that there were no other persons in the facility he had in contact with, in accordance with Department of Health (DOH) protocols.
He also announced that before he posted a clarification about the Mpox case, he secured a clearance from the DOH.
“Before maka-announce ko ninyo, I also needed to secure an official clearance from the DOH before I can formally speak on this matter and issue an official statement,” Gullas pointed out.
He also called on Talisaynons to stay calm and stay safe.
“To our fellow Talisaynons: rest assured that Mpox is not dangerous and is very much curable. Somewhat similar lang gyud cya sa chickenpox or hang-ga [hanggâ]. Angay lang gyud i-quarantine kung naa. Di ta angayang mabalaka, angayan natong buhaton mao nga makisayod ug mosunod sa pahimangno sa DOH,” the mayor further advised.
In Mandaue City, a suspected case of Mpox is being monitored by health officials led by Dr. Debra Catulong, medical officer of Mandaue City Health Office.
She advised the public to stay calm, as the patient has already been isolated.
Health workers have also conducted contact tracing, she said.
Catulong said that the patient sought medical help for lesions in a hospital.
As lesions are one of the symptoms of monkeypox, the patient was isolated immediately.
“Naay lesions, [pero] dili pa siya confirmed [nga Mpox]. Kay daghan man pwede hunahunaon kon naay lesions sa panit. Among unang gibuhat is gi-isolate, gilahi namo siya sa grupo. Naa nay taga DOH Regional Office to investigate sa kaso kon tinuod ba gyud ni nga Mpox. Nag-collect na sad ta og specimen para ma-confirm nato,” Catulong said in an interview with GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.
She advised the public not to go on panic.
“Dili ta angay mag-panic noh…in case of naa tay suspicious nga pamation sa atong lawas, magpakonsulta dayon ta,” Catulong added.
Furthermore, three suspected Mpox cases in Lapu-Lapu City rendered negative in a confirmatory test.
According to Lapu-Lapu City Health Officer, Dr. Agnes Cecil Realiza, the suspected Mpox cases involve two females and one male, ages 20 to 35 years old.
“Negatibo ang resulta sa confirmatory test sa 3 [tulo] ka Oponganon nga nakitaan og simpotas [sintomas] sa Mpox. Buot pasabot nga wala pay kaso sa Mpox sa atong syudad,” Mayor Junard Chan, in a post, said.
(via Nikko Sereno, Fe Marie Dumaboc, and Lou-Anne Mae Rondina/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)
