Baguio activates dedicated health team vs Mpox

BAGUIO CITY (January 22, 2025) -- The Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) said it has activated a dedicated health team to focus on the prevention, detection, and management of Mpox.

The team is currently conducting communication campaigns, contact tracing, and establishing procedures for case management and transmission prevention, it detailed.

On Saturday night, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong signalled an alert the city’s first Mpox case – a 28-year-old male, which was caused by the less severe Clade II mpox virus type and not Clade I which is considered deadly.

As one of the modes of transmission of Mpox is intimate skin-to-skin contact (hugging, kissing, sexual contact, etc.), CHSO chief Dr. Flor C. Brillantes profusely urged people to avoid such contact especially with the manifestation of symptoms.

Common symptoms of Mpox are skin rashes or muscle lesions which can last two to four weeks. These lesions are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

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

She also appealed to hotels, inns, lodges, Air BnBs, and transient houses to implement stricter sanitation procedures as Mpox can be transmitted through infected items such as beddings and other frequently touched objects or surfaces.

Brillantes emphasized that bedding, towels, and similar items must be washed and sanitized every after use by guests or clients.

Employees of these tourism service establishments were also advised to wear face masks, gloves, and long sleeves when handling the housekeeping and laundry of such items to avoid the spread of infection.

Food establishments, including food delivery services, were likewise reminded of sanitation practices especially handwashing and making these sanitation areas in the establishments visible to all customers.

Brillantes further highlighted Mpox anti-spread measures like riders who deliver food must observe proper and frequent handwashing before and after the handling of food and money.

She also urged tourists and residents to wear masks, long sleeves, and long pants when visiting crowded places and events and further advised to always bring hand sanitizers on all occasions and practice frequent handwashing.

Events organizers were also urged to apply transmission preventive measures for all activities to be held in the city.

As a proactive move, should there be additional Mpox cases in the city, the health team is also preparing the reactivation of an isolation facility for patients whose own houses may not be conducive for home isolation, Brillantes bared.

The City Health Services Office is currently in coordination with the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for other preparedness and mitigation measures.