MPOX SPREADS IN W. VISAYAS: Capiz Logs First Mpox Case; Iloilo City Now At 8

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Felipe V. Celino

Capiz reported its first confirmed case of mpox on June 19, adding to the growing number of infections in Western Visayas, including eight confirmed cases in Iloilo City.

The Capiz Provincial Health Office said the case was one of seven suspected infections reported on June 17.

Laboratory results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine confirmed one positive and one negative result via polymerase chain reaction testing.

The patient is under home isolation, with nearly healed skin lesions, while all identified close contacts are being traced and monitored.

The provincial government has activated 17 local health offices, five government hospitals, and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams to assist in surveillance and response operations.

In Roxas City, Capiz Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ramon Alex Nolasco said isolation rooms, testing kits, and specimen collection tools are already prepared across municipal health units.

Tecovirimat, an antiviral medication, is also on standby for distribution once additional cases are confirmed, according to Charmaine Quimpo, head of the province’s infectious disease and environmental health program.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City now has eight confirmed mpox cases as of June 20, with two new cases reported in the past week, according to the City Health Office.

Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, assistant city health officer, said the two latest patients are adults with no known links to previously reported cases.

Despite the increase, recoveries are also rising, with five of the eight confirmed patients now cleared.

Five suspected cases are under observation, but none have known connections to earlier infections.

“There is no correlation and they are not close to the previous cases,” Fortuna said.

In total, the city has reported 13 confirmed and suspected cases since the outbreak began.

Health officials continue to urge the public to be vigilant, especially for symptoms like unexplained rashes.

“If you have these, our health centers are open 24/7. Get consulted so we can collect specimens and submit them for testing,” Fortuna said.

The city government has requested approval from national agencies to allow the Uswag Molecular Laboratory in Molo to conduct local mpox testing.

Letters were sent to the Office of the President, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier this month.

As of June 20, the City Health Office has not received a response and is preparing a follow-up request.

Officials say local testing would reduce turnaround time and enable quicker containment of the virus.