Iloilo Confirms First Mpox Case in Minor Patient

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) confirmed that the province’s first recorded monkeypox (Mpox) case this year involved a minor with no history of travel.

The patient developed itchy rashes on May 2 and sought medical care at a district hospital on May 12 after symptoms worsened.

An attending physician suspected Mpox, prompting specimen collection from the rashes for laboratory testing.

While awaiting confirmation, the patient was prescribed medication and instructed to observe home quarantine.

The patient’s case was referred to the local health office and Punong Barangay for compliance monitoring.

Dr. Rodney R. Labis, head of IPHO’s Health Service Delivery Division, commended the hospital’s swift response and coordination with local authorities.

“The good thing is that the hospital initiated coordination with the local health authorities to support the patient and the family during home quarantine,” Labis said in an interview.

The patient was declared recovered on May 23, completing the 21-day isolation period.

Contact tracing identified five close household contacts and additional hospital exposures involving personnel without personal protective equipment (PPE).

All close contacts remain asymptomatic and are under observation until June 12.

IPHO Chief Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said the source of infection is still under investigation, given the absence of travel history.

She said possible transmission modes include contact with contaminated linens, indirect exposure from an infected individual, or animal transmission.

“So far, there is no evidence of direct contact with anyone who has a skin condition or of any sexual activity, based on the physical examination we conducted,” Dr. Quiñon said.

“We are also looking into the possibility of contact through contaminated linens or even animals that might carry the virus,” she added.

IPHO assured the public that containment measures are in place and updates will follow as the investigation progresses.

It also urged residents to follow basic health protocols, including:

• Regular hand hygiene with alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water
• Covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and handrails
• Avoiding skin-to-skin contact, especially with symptomatic individuals

Dr. Quiñon appealed for community understanding and stressed the importance of patient privacy.

She reminded the public to rely on official health sources for information and avoid misinformation, stigma, or discrimination related to Mpox or any illness.

Mpox is a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, which is related to smallpox but is typically less severe.

It can be transmitted from animals to humans or through close person-to-person contact.

Symptoms usually appear 5 to 21 days after exposure and include fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and a rash that develops into blisters and scabs.