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Health officials say none of the infected patients in Iloilo City and Iloilo province have a recent travel history, making the source of infection unclear
ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Local governments in Iloilo have raised health alerts after laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox (monkeypox) were reported in the city and province. Health authorities in Zamboanga City, in Mindanao, also did the same thing due to five suspected infections.
On Wednesday, May 28, the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) and the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) each confirmed one positive case in their respective areas, resulting in intensified surveillance and contact tracing work.
CHO head Mary Ann Poli-Diaz said the city’s first case tested positive via real-time polymerase chain reaction examination by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). Four other suspected cases are under monitoring.
“All identified [infected patients] in Iloilo City are currently in isolation, receiving appropriate medical care, and are in stable condition,” Dr. Poli-Diaz said.
Officials withheld details to protect the patients’ privacy.
The infected will undergo a 21-day isolation period or remain isolated until their skin lesions are fully healed, per protocol.
Officials said none of the patients had a recent travel history, making the source of infection unclear.
“We cannot say that this is a local transmission because we need to investigate the source. That’s why we are working [on] the surveillance” to identify the “index case.”
While no signs of widespread community transmission have noted, the CHO urged public vigilance and adherence to preventive measures.
In Iloilo province, provincial health office head Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said the patient is recovering under home isolation.
Nine close contacts have been identified, but none have shown mpox symptoms as of the latest monitoring.
Suspected cases in Zamboanga
In Mindanao, health authorities also ramped up monitoring and public health measures following confirmed mpox cases and more suspected infections in the Zamboanga Peninsula and other regions.
Mindanao has seen a spike in mpox cases in May, particularly in the Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro, and Zamboanga Peninsula regions. South Cotabato in the Soccsksargen, with 10 confirmed infections as of May 22, reported the highest number of cases so far.
At least five suspected cases have been reported in Zamboanga City, according to local officials on Wednesday, May 28.
During a press briefing, Zamboaga City health officer Dulce Miravite said the city government was monitoring the situation closely and prepared to respond if the need arises.
Dr. Miravite said the suspected mpox cases in the city remain under investigation and await laboratory confirmation.
“We want the public to stay calm but alert. Mpox is preventable, and we can minimize the risk through proper hygiene and awareness,” she said.
Just like in other areas where mpox cases were confirmed or suspected, the Zamboanga City Health Office has activated contact tracing teams and stepped up health education especially in communities that are being closely watched.
The CHO warned against misinformation and appealed to the public to rely only on official channels for updates.
Health officials have advised the public to avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with individuals showing rashes, refrain from touching contaminated objects or surfaces, and practice frequent handwashing or use alcohol-based sanitizers.
Mpox spreads primarily through direct contact with an infected person’s rash, scabs, or bodily fluids. Intimate physical contact can also lead to the transmission of the virus.
Symptoms typically appear one to 21 days after exposure and last two to four weeks. Early signs include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, chills, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Some may also experience sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough.
Miravite stressed the importance of frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with individuals showing symptoms, and promptly reporting suspected cases to authorities. – Rappler.com
