The Department of Health-SOCCSKSARGEN (DOH-12) is monitoring two suspected cases of monkeypox (mpox) in the region.

DOH-12 said the two patients have rashes and experienced fever. They have been isolated.

Their close contacts have also been identified and placed under quarantine.

“Itong dalawang cases po natin na ito ay hindi pa po natin na-establish yung kanilang history of travel, or history of exposure to any probable or any confirmed monkeypox case,” DOH-12 Medical Officer IV, Dr. Dyan Zubelle Parayao, said.

Samples have already been submitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for confirmation.

Mpox is an infectious disease, but it is not airborne.

“Nakakahawa via direct o intimate contact, so sa simpleng paghawak, so hawiranay, halukanay, hugging, kissing so pwede ta matakdan and even if nahawiran nato ang mga butang, mga surface kung asa gikan tong mga affected individuals nato pwede gihapon ta matakdan,” DOH-12 Medical Officer III, Dr. Charmaine Pearl Cedeño, said.

Among the symptoms of mpox include fever, body pains and headache, and rashes.

Health authorities urged the public to follow health protocols to avoid transmission.

“If ever may mga crowded places tayo na pupuntahan, we have to wear mask at if ever man mag-develop ng mga symptoms of monkey pox ay we have to report it immediately para tayo ay ma-test, tayo ay ma-manage ng maayos at ma-identify ang mga close contacts at para ma-mitigate natin ang pag-spread ng transmission of this infection,” Parayao added.