Cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Puerto Princesa City and the rest of Palawan have risen sharply to 2,421 from January to the first week of October 2025, according to the Center for Regional Epidemiology and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) MIMAROPA of the Department of Health (DOH).
The figure is 5,805% higher than the same period in 2024 when only 41 cases were recorded. No deaths have been reported so far.
Puerto Princesa City has logged the most cases in the province with 530, followed by Roxas with 207 and Brooke’s Point with 196. Other municipalities with notable case counts include Rizal with 161, Narra with 165, Aborlan with 153, and Quezon with 151.
Kalayaan remains HFMD-free since 2024.
Across the MIMAROPA region, HFMD infections have reached 5,405, which is 1,584% higher compared to 2024’s 321 cases. Palawan accounts for nearly half of the total cases, followed by Oriental Mindoro with 1,079, Romblon with 957, Marinduque with 713, and Occidental Mindoro with 235.
Health officials continue to remind the public to follow preventive measures to reduce transmission. They advise frequent handwashing, maintaining cleanliness of the body and surroundings, eating nutritious food, and avoiding crowded places.
HFMD is a contagious illness that spreads when a person touches their eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have come into contact with objects contaminated by enterovirus.
The disease commonly affects children aged five and below, who usually develop fever, mouth sores, sore throat, and rashes on the palms and soles of the feet — the primary symptoms of HFMD.
