Manila, May 30 -- The number of mpox (formerly monkeypox) cases here has climbed to six, which include four new infections, the City Health Office (CHO) reported on Friday.

In an interview, Dr. Sofia Corazon Zafra, CHO medical coordinator for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, said the four new cases are currently under close monitoring, and the close contacts of these patients are also being observed.

"They (close contacts) will not be isolated as per the memorandum from the Department of Health," Zafra clarified.

Last month, the city had reported two confirmed mpox cases, one of whom passed away while the other recovered.

Dr. Zafra urged residents to avoid panic buying face masks, emphasizing that the public should primar...