ILOILO City is on heightened alert following the confirmation of one laboratory-tested case of mpox (monkeypox) and four suspected cases as of Tuesday. The City Health Office (CHO) announced that all five individuals are currently under isolation and receiving medical treatment, with their conditions reported as stable.
CHO head Dr. Mary Ann Diaz emphasized that, due to privacy concerns, no further details about the patients would be released.
The CHO is actively conducting contact tracing and case finding in collaboration with other health institutions. Suspected and probable cases are undergoing testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for confirmation.
Significantly, Dr. Diaz noted that none of the individuals have a recent travel history, suggesting a potential local transmission. While authorities maintain that there is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission, they are closely monitoring the situation and implementing preventative measures.
Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, CHO Medical Officer IV, detailed the modes of transmission and symptoms of mpox.
He stressed that the virus spreads through direct contact with infected individuals, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets during prolonged close contact, or contaminated materials.
Symptomatic individuals are required to isolate for 21 days, and close contacts are urged to monitor themselves for symptoms. Common symptoms include fever, severe headaches, muscle and back pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and a characteristic rash.
Dr. Fortuna outlined preventative measures, including avoiding close contact with suspected cases, practicing good hand hygiene, not sharing personal items, and avoiding contact with animals, particularly wild mammals.
He urged anyone experiencing symptoms to seek immediate medical attention. Mayor Jerry Treñas, through spokesperson Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, called for calm and cooperation with ongoing health efforts, emphasizing the city government’s commitment to public safety.
Iloilo City previously recorded five suspected mpox cases in 2022 and 11 in 2024.
