BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) has set up a dedicated team focusing on the prevention, detection, and management of Monkeypox (Mpox).

According to the CHSO, the team is currently conducting communication campaigns, contact tracing, and establishing procedures for case management and transmission prevention.

On Saturday, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong sounded the alert following the confirmation of the city’s first Mpox case involving a 28-year-old male. The infection was caused by the less severe Clade II Mpox virus type, as opposed to Clade I, which is considered deadly.

As one mode of Mpox transmission is intimate skin-to-skin contact (e.g., hugging, kissing, sexual contact), CHSO Chief Dr. Flor Brillantes strongly urged people to avoid such contact, especially when symptoms are present. Common symptoms of Mpox include skin rashes or muscle lesions lasting two to four weeks. These lesions are often accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

Residents are advised to visit their nearest District Health Center for a check-up if symptoms appear.

Dr. Brillantes also appealed to hotels, inns, lodges, Airbnbs, and transient houses to implement stricter sanitation procedures, as Mpox can be transmitted through infected items such as bedding and other frequently touched objects or surfaces. She emphasized that bedding, towels, and similar items must be washed and sanitized after every use by guests or clients.

Employees of tourism service establishments were advised to wear face masks, gloves, and long sleeves when handling housekeeping tasks and laundry to prevent the spread of infection. Food establishments, including food delivery services, were likewise reminded to adhere to strict sanitation practices, particularly handwashing, and to ensure that sanitation areas are visible and accessible to all customers.

Dr. Brillantes further stressed Mpox anti-spread measures, stating that food delivery riders must practice proper and frequent handwashing before and after handling food and money. She also urged tourists and residents to wear masks, long sleeves, and long pants when visiting crowded places and events. Additionally, she recommended carrying hand sanitizers at all times and practicing frequent handwashing.

Event organizers were similarly urged to implement preventive measures during activities held in the city.

As a proactive measure, the health team is preparing to reactivate an isolation facility should additional Mpox cases arise. This facility will accommodate patients whose homes are unsuitable for isolation.

The City Health Services Office is also coordinating with the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to implement further preparedness and mitigation measures.