THE Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) confirmed four laboratory-tested cases of mpox and reported two more suspected cases as of June 2, 2025.
All six individuals are currently isolated and in stable condition as city health authorities continue efforts to prevent further transmission.
“We have a total of six cases as of now, four of which are laboratory-confirmed. We are still investigating the proper definition of what qualifies as community transmission," Dr. Mary Ann Diaz, head of the ICHO, said.
All patients are distinct cases, with one having a travel history within the country, currently in isolation, receiving medical treatment, and in stable condition.
Diaz said mpox can affect anyone, but all recorded cases in Iloilo City have been adults. The local government is drafting a letter to RIM requesting the Molo District Molecular Laboratory's authorization for confirmatory testing.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a reemerging infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated materials, or surfaces. Symptoms typically include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash, often starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body.
City officials urged residents to observe preventive measures, including frequent handwashing, wearing face masks, using long-sleeved clothing, avoiding crowded places, reporting symptoms truthfully, isolating when symptomatic, and practicing safe travel. They also emphasized that prevention is better than cure and encouraged residents to seek early medical consultation when symptoms appear.
As part of its citywide containment efforts, the Iloilo City Government convened several stakeholder briefings beginning June 2. Initial meetings involved City Hall department heads, followed by engagements with barangays, the business sector, public transport groups, the Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo), Bureau of Quarantine, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Coast Guard on June 3.
Further coordination meetings are scheduled for June 4 with schools, universities, boarding houses, regional agencies, and religious groups. A final round of consultations on June 5 will include representatives from business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, social hygiene clinics, and the sex worker community.
The ICHO is also working closely with barangay health workers, hospitals, and community partners to enhance surveillance and ensure early detection. The agency is preparing additional isolation facilities should case numbers rise.
City health authorities continue to urge the public to practice frequent handwashing, wear face masks, avoid crowded places, use protective clothing, isolate when symptomatic, and seek immediate medical consultation. The CHO emphasized that truthful symptom reporting and early intervention are essential to preventing the disease’s spread.
The Department of Health has called on local government units and health institutions to strengthen their public information drives and enforce preventive measures at the community level. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)