Zamboanga City: The local government has advised residents to remain alert and observe proper hygiene practices to help prevent the spread of monkeypox (mpox), even as no confirmed cases have been reported in the city.

According to Philippines News Agency, the advisory was issued Monday by the City Health Office (CHO) following the confirmation of an mpox case involving a three-year-old girl in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay over the weekend. CHO personnel conducted contact tracing after it was learned that the child briefly visited Barangay Lunzuran, Zamboanga City, before returning to Tungawan. None of the identified close contacts in the city exhibited symptoms.

'As of this time, Zamboanga City has no confirmed case of mpox,' CHO chief Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite said. Miravite urged the public to avoid crowded areas, practice regular handwashing, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. She also encouraged individuals showing symptoms such as fever, rashes, or swollen lymph nodes to seek immediate medical attention.