DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Health Office reported on Friday morning, May 30, six cases of monkeypox here, including the two cases recorded last month.

CHO medical coordinator for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, Dr. Sofia Corazon D. Zafra, confirmed this during a Davao City Disaster Radio interview.

Zafra said four patients remain active with monkeypox and are in stable condition, one has recovered, and the other patient died due to complications not related to the disease.

"The condition of the remaining patients is stable. None of the active cases are critical. We are continuously monitoring them and their close contacts,” Zafra added.

Zafra highlighted the efforts of the City’s Epidemiology Department, which is actively conducting monitoring, particularly of those identified over the past two to three weeks.

“So far, none of the monitored close contacts have shown symptoms,” Zafra said. She, however, refused to provide further details on where they contracted monkeypox.

Despite the new cases, Zafra emphasized there is no cause for alarm. She said it is right to be vigilant, but there is no need to panic. She urged everyone to follow health protocols.

“Since the beginning, we have implemented health protocols like regular handwashing, avoiding physical contact, including skin-to-skin, and wearing face masks when needed,” she said.

According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is a contagious illness that can cause painful rashes, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and tiredness.

Executive Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan of the Regional Trial Court Branch 11 issued the order to wear face masks for all staff and visitors entering the Hall of Justice in Davao City.

Through a memorandum dated May 29, the reimposed health protocol takes effect immediately and is intended as a preventive measure amid growing concerns about monkeypox in the region.

WHO said monkeypox spreads through close contact with someone who has the virus. This includes skin-to-skin contact, hugging, kissing, or being face-to-face while talking or breathing closely.

People living in the same household or those with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk.

The WHO added that the virus can also spread through contaminated items like clothes, bedsheets, or through needle injuries in healthcare settings and areas like tattoo shops.

Pregnant women can pass monkeypox to their babies during pregnancy or birth, which the WHO said can be dangerous and may lead to pregnancy loss or health issues for the baby or the mother.

WHO said moneypox can also spread from animals to humans through bites, scratches, or contact during hunting, cooking, or eating wild animals.

The Davao del Sur provincial government also issued a face mask mandate in all public areas as a preventive response to the spread of monkeypox and other infectious diseases.

Gov. Yvonne Cagas signed Executive Order No. 20, Series of 2025, on May 28, requiring face mask in all public and outdoor spaces where physical distancing is challenging.

The order was issued after the province confirmed its first monkeypox case in Magsaysay town.

Under the directive, all local government units must activate their health emergency response teams to conduct surveillance, reporting, and public awareness efforts.

They were also mandated to work closely with municipal and city health offices for isolation, referral, and contact tracing of potential cases.

In Davao de Oro province, health officials confirmed three cases of monkeypox on Thursday, May 29, prompting the provincial government to enforce face mask use and follow other health protocols.

Compostela Mayor Levi Ebdao issued an executive order requiring residents to wear face masks in public and follow health protocols in response to rising health concerns in the area.

The order was based on Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act that allows local government units to implement emergency health measures during public health crises.

The Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit in Compostela Vallley has verified two confirmed cases while the Davao de Oro Provincial Health Office reported one confirmed case.

Aside from Davao City, Davao del Sur, and Davao de Oro, monkeypox cases have been reported in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Department of Health advised the public not to panic over monkeypox. People were encouraged to exercise health protocols and stay updated on cases.

If symptoms develop, health officials urged people to seek immediate medical help in the nearby health centers or hospitals.