PHO Dinagat Islands denies mpox cases, implements safeguards

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Dinagat Islands has denied circulating reports of confirmed mpox cases, while local government units across the Caraga Region have implemented protective measures to safeguard residents.

In a public advisory issued Monday, the PHO clarified that no laboratory-confirmed mpox cases have been detected in the province despite recent social media claims and issued Executive Order No. 05-04 on Thursday providing guidelines for prevention, detection, isolation, and management of mpox infection.

Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. confirmed that two suspected cases were recorded last week but were later diagnosed as chickenpox after laboratory testing; however, these cases are currently awaiting confirmation from further tests.

Residents in Dinagat Islands are advised to avoid close skin-to-skin contact and practice proper hand hygiene, while face masks are required within the provincial capitol and Agusan del Norte's provincial hospital has issued a memorandum making mask-wearing mandatory within its premises as a proactive measure against mpox.

The Department of Health in Caraga (DOH-13) urges residents to seek information about mpox transmission and symptoms to prevent its spread.