DepEd Memorandum 053, s. 2025
Advisory on Monkeypox Awareness, Prevention, and Response in Schools And Offices
JUL 04 2025
DepEd MEMORANDUM
No. 053, s. 2025
ADVISORY ON MONKEYPOX AWARENESS, PREVENTION, AND RESPONSE IN SCHOOLS AND OFFICES
To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public Elementary and Secondary School Heads
All Others Concerned
1. The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division (BLSS-SHD), reiterates its commitment to promoting the health, safety, and well-being of all learners and personnel.
2. The Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which is characterized by a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and low energy. It is transmitted through direct contact with infectious skin or mucosa! lesions, body fluids, or contaminated materials, and spreads mostly through intimate sexual contact. The Mpox symptoms are mild, and the disease is rarely fatal.
3. The first confirmed case of Mpox in the Philippines was confirmed last July 2022. According to the Department of Health (DOH), from January 1 to June 2, 2025, 131 confirmed cases were reported, with the highest monthly count of 33 confirmed cases in April 2025. All confirmed Mpox cases belong to the Clade II lineage, with three reported deaths. Confirmed cases have been identified in Regions III, IV-A, VI, VII, IX, XI, and XII, BARMM, and CAR. Of the reported confirmed cases, 65 cases (49%) recovered, while 63 (48%) are still under monitoring and isolation.
4. In light of the World Health Organization's declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Department issues this advisory reactivating the Preventive Alert System in Schools (PASS) and adapting the DOH Memorandum No. 2024-0306 dated August 26, 2024, titled Updated Interim Guidelines on the Prevention, Detection, and Management of Mpox, and DOH Memorandum No. 2024-0320 dated September 6, 2024, titled Interim Guidelines for Mpox Prevention and Response in Workplaces and Other High Risk Commercial Establishments.
5. General Guidelines. Schools shall implement the following measures to prevent the spread of Mpox.
a. Schools are expected to follow standard precautions for Mpox prevention, including practicing proper hand hygiene, ensuring thorough cleaning and disinfection, and avoiding intimate close contact with suspected, probable, or confirmed Mpox cases as defined in Enclosure No. l;
b. Schools shall reactivate the PASS for Mpox and coordinate accordingly with their respective Local Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (LESUs);
c. For confirmed cases, return to school will be permitted only after completion of the isolation period and confirmation by a physician that the individual is symptom-free through a medical certificate;
d. Close contacts are expected to be monitored, or should self-monitor, daily for the onset of signs or symptoms for a period of 21 days from the last contact with the probable or confirmed case or their contaminated materials, while suspect, probable, or confirmed cases are expected to isolate and be managed based on the severity of their presentation;
e. Sanitizing stations at key locations, such as entrances, exits, and workstations, should be set up in high-traffic areas; and
f. Schools are encouraged to implement appropriate risk communication strategies to promote preventive behaviors, proper reporting, and referral while ensuring the prevention of stigmatization of at-risk groups. Key messages and communication points are available in Enclosure No. 2 as references.
6. Specific Guidelines. Specific guidelines on prevention, detection, isolation, treatment, and management are indicated as follows:
a. Prevention. Schools and DepEd offices shall disseminate information on the prevention of Mpox, including but not limited to the following:
i. Avoid close and intimate, skin-to-skin contact, such as sexual contact, kissing, hugging, and cuddling with individuals who are suspected, probable, or confirmed cases of Mpox. If contact is unavoidable due to the need for care, caregivers must adhere to proper prevention and control measures, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
ii. Observe frequent and proper hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub or handwashing whenever hands are soiled or contaminated.
iii. Ensure that objects and surfaces suspected of being contaminated with the virus or handled by an infectious person are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
iv. Contact health personnel if experiencing any of the signs and symptoms of Mpox. A database of teleconsultation hotlines to public hospitals is available through this link: https://tinyurl.com/TeleconsultSummary.
v. Wear appropriate PPE when caring for suspect, probable, and confirmed cases of Mpox and for all interactions that may involve contact with the patient or potentially contaminated areas in the patient's environment:
(1) A fit-tested, seal-checked N95 respirator mask or equivalent;
(2) Disposable, long-sleeved, fluid-resistant level 2 gowns;
(3) Eye protection such as goggles or face shields that cover the front and sides of the face;
(4) Single-use gloves, to be disposed of after every patient interaction; and
(5) Dedicated footwear that can be decontaminated.
b. Detection. The PASS, based on DepEd Order No. 34, s. 2003 (Anti-SARS Campaign in Schools) is a systematic relay of information on a child's or teacher's state of health to appropriate personnel and/or agencies in the locality. All school heads shall operationalize the PASS in their respective schools as illustrated in Enclosure No. 3.
i. Teachers in charge shall explain in class how PASS works.
ii. Learners will observe the well-being of their classmates, and if someone among them is not feeling well or is feverish and has rashes, a sore throat, a headache, or muscle aches, the sick learner will be reported to the teacher or designated school-based personnel for validation of his/her condition.
iii. Early morning health inspections shall be conducted routinely by the teacher or designated personnel to detect the presence of fever and other signs and symptoms of infection.
iv. The teacher shall keenly observe the health status of each learner in the classroom. If the teacher or the designated school-based personnel finds out that a learner is sick, the case will be reported immediately to the school head.
v. The school head shall notify the family/guardian member of the sick learner, who shall be immediately referred to the school health personnel or the nearest barangay /municipal/ city health center for evaluation or referral to a hospital if needed. The same process shall be observed for teachers or other personnel who will exhibit symptoms of infection.
vi. Upon identification of a suspect, probable, or confirmed case, the school head shall ensure that contact tracing is initiated within the classroom/ school/ office to identify possible close contacts. Contact tracing shall commence in coordination with the local health office while waiting for the test results of the suspect or probable cases. Relevant forms are attached as Enclosure No. 4.
c. Isolation. Schools shall ensure that identified cases are isolated and monitored as follows:
i. If a suspect or probable case (learner/personnel) is identified through health screening upon entry to the school or workplace and/ or through physical observation prior to provision of close-contact services, the individual should be immediately isolated from others in a designated area to prevent potential spread.
ii. Suspect, probable, or confirmed Mpox cases with mild, uncomplicated disease and not at high risk for complications can be isolated at home for the duration of the infectious period (at least 21 days from onset of symptoms until lesions have healed and scabs fall off, whichever is longer). The condition of the learner or personnel should be closely followed up by the school health personnel.
iii. The decision to isolate and monitor a patient at home should be made on a case-by-case basis and be based on their clinical severity, presence of complications, care needs, risk factors for severe disease, and access to referral for hospitalization if their condition deteriorates.
iv. Close contacts shall be monitored by the school health personnel and should self-monitor daily for the onset of signs or symptoms for a period of 21 days from the last contact with the suspect, probable, or confirmed case or their contaminated materials.
v. Learners, teachers, and other personnel evaluated by school health personnel/referred to hospitals shall strictly observe the advice of the health personnel/hospital, including the possibility of home quarantine.
d. Treatment and Referral. Treatment for Mpox is mainly supportive and is directed at relieving symptoms such as fever, pain, and pruritus. Upon detection of a suspect or probable case, the school head shall ensure that management is coordinated with the LESU and the Local Health Office.
e. Immediate Reporting. The protocol for reporting confirmed cases is as follows:
i. If there is a confirmed case, the school head shall notify the school health personnel and the schools division office, School Governance and Operations Division, School Health and Nutrition (SDO SGOD SHN) Section within 24 hours of confirmation. The SDO SGOD SHN Section shall notify the regional office (RO) within 24 hours of being notified and submit a written report containing the following information within 72 hours of confirmation:
(1) Age and Sex of learner/ personnel
(2) School Involved
(3) Confirmation Method/Institution
(4) Contact Tracing
(5) Actions Done
(6) Future Plans
ii. The RO shall inform the Central Office (CO) of any confirmed cases within 24 hours of being notified and shall transmit to the CO the initial report submitted by the SD SGOD SHN section within 24 hours of receipt.
f. Consolidation, Follow-up, and Monitoring. A record of all suspected, probable, and confirmed cases shall be recorded and reported as follows:
i. School heads shall maintain a daily record of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases and submit this to the SDO SGOD SHN Section weekly. The SDO SGOD SHN Section shall consolidate all reports of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases within their respective SDOs and submit them to the RO weekly. A reporting template is accessible through this link: https://tinyurl.com/MpoxTemplate.
ii. School health personnel shall conduct a follow-up visit with the confirmed case within three days after the end of the patient's isolation period and submit a follow-up report to the RO within three days from the follow-up visit. This report will be transmitted by the RO to the CO within 24 hours of receipt.
iii. The RO shall consolidate all reports of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases within their respective SDOs and submit this to the CO every two weeks by filling in their respective trackers in this link: https://tinyurl.com/MpoxTracker.
7. Source of Funds. Expenses for the conduct of activities related to the Mpox response in schools and DepEd offices may be charged to downloaded Program Support Funds for the Provision of Basic Health Services from Learner Support Program (LSP)-SHD 2025 Current Funds in accordance with OM-OUOPS-2025-07-02351 or the Implementing Guidelines on the Allocation, Utilization, Documentation, and Reporting of Program Support Funds (PSF) for the Field Implementation of Learner Support Programs for Financial Year 2025.
8. Additional measures may be instituted guided by the above-mentioned DOH issuances.
9. This Memorandum can also be a reference for private schools and other schools that are not directly under the control and supervision of DepEd, including those under the state universities and colleges/local universities and colleges.
10. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division, 3rd Floor, Mabini Building, Department of Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, through email at blss.shd@deped.gov.ph or at telephone number (02) 8632-9935.
11. Immediate dissemination of this Memorandum is desired
By Autority of the Secretary
(SGD) ATTY. FATIMA LIPP D. PANONTONGAN
Undersecretary and Chief of Staff
Encls.:
As stated
References:
DepEd Order Nos. (No. 34, s. 2003)
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
under the following subjects:
ADVISORY
BUREAUS AND OFFICES
EMPLOYEES
HEALTH EDUCATION
LEARNERS
OFFICIALS
TEACHERS
A full copy of DepEd Memorandum No. 053, s. 2025 below:
0 Comments