MPOX IN ILOILO: City, Province Log Confirmed Cases

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor, Jennifer P. Rendon, and Mariela Angella Oladive

Health authorities in Iloilo have confirmed the first laboratory-verified cases of mpox, or monkeypox, in both the city and province, prompting heightened alert and intensified disease surveillance.

The Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) and Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) each reported one confirmed case on Wednesday, May 28.

Both patients tested positive through real-time polymerase chain reaction testing by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

ICHO head Dr. Mary Ann Poli-Diaz said the city’s confirmed case is in stable condition and undergoing a 21-day isolation, along with four suspected cases also under monitoring.

She emphasized that none of the five individuals under observation have recent travel history, and contact tracing is ongoing to determine the source of the infection.

“We cannot say it is a local transmission yet,” she said.

“We’re investigating the index case, as the virus did not appear out of nowhere.”

Diaz urged the public to observe proper hand hygiene, avoid crowded places to reduce skin-to-skin contact, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.

The IPHO confirmed its lone case after testing three specimens, of which one returned positive.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said the patient, who has no travel history, is recovering well at home in isolation.

Nine close contacts have been identified and are currently asymptomatic but remain under observation.

Quiñon stressed the importance of calm, vigilance, and respect for patient privacy while continuing proactive health measures.

“This is the province’s second confirmed mpox case, with the first recorded in 2022,” she said.

Both health offices urged residents to follow standard precautions including frequent handwashing with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers, avoiding close or intimate contact, and refraining from sharing personal items.

People showing symptoms are advised to self-isolate and delay travel until they are fully recovered.

Mpox symptoms typically appear within 1 to 21 days after exposure and last 2 to 4 weeks.

They include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, chills, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and sometimes sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough.

A painful rash may also develop.

The virus spreads primarily through close contact with an infected person, especially via direct contact with rash, scabs, or bodily fluids.

It can also be transmitted through intimate contact such as kissing, hugging, and sexual activity.

The disease is rare but can be severe in immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and young children.

Authorities reminded travelers to check for mpox cases in their destination countries and to postpone return trips if symptomatic.