QC gets its 1st case of mpox
QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Saturday that a 37-year-old male resident had been admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila after he exhibited mpox symptoms.In a statement, Belmonte also said the local government had already identified at least 15 people who had close contacts with him, "and they are currently under close monitoring."This is the first mpox disease (caused by the Monkeypox virus) in the city, detected more than a week after the Department of Health (DoH) reported the country's first case this year."He started exhibiting symptoms on Aug. 16, 2024 and got admitted to the hospital six days later," Belmonte said.The city's Public Affairs and Information Service Department and City Epidemiology and Surveillance (CESD) head, Dr. Rolly Cruz, told The Manila Times the male resident was not one of the close contacts of the first mpox patient, who was not a resident of the city.Medical personnel collected the patient's specimen, which was brought to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; the positive result came out on August 26.Citing an initial case investigation report of the City Health Department (CHD) through CESD, the patient has a recent local travel history.Meanwhile, Cruz said they had been continuously monitoring the contacts exposed from the Infinity Spa and Fahrenheit Club (F Club), which were both ordered closed temporarily by the city government.Since the detection of the first mpox case this year, the city has activated its own prevention, control, and response protocols.All health care workers in the city had undergone orientation in reporting and handling mpox cases, the CHD said.Belmonte called on establishment owners to cooperate and comply with the city government's contact-tracing efforts to curb the spread of the virus and ensure QCitizens' safety and welfare.To streamline and strengthen its response to mpox, the city government has also established the QC Task Force MPOX through an executive order consisting of various city government departments and offices, she added.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Saturday that a 37-year-old male resident had been admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila after he exhibited mpox symptoms.
In a statement, Belmonte also said the local government had already identified at least 15 people who had close contacts with him, "and they are currently under close monitoring."
This is the first mpox disease (caused by the Monkeypox virus) in the city, detected more than a week after the Department of Health (DoH) reported the country's first case this year.
"He started exhibiting symptoms on Aug. 16, 2024 and got admitted to the hospital six days later," Belmonte said.
The city's Public Affairs and Information Service Department and City Epidemiology and Surveillance (CESD) head, Dr. Rolly Cruz, told The Manila Times the male resident was not one of the close contacts of the first mpox patient, who was not a resident of the city.
Medical personnel collected the patient's specimen, which was brought to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; the positive result came out on August 26.
Citing an initial case investigation report of the City Health Department (CHD) through CESD, the patient has a recent local travel history.
Meanwhile, Cruz said they had been continuously monitoring the contacts exposed from the Infinity Spa and Fahrenheit Club (F Club), which were both ordered closed temporarily by the city government.
Since the detection of the first mpox case this year, the city has activated its own prevention, control, and response protocols.
All health care workers in the city had undergone orientation in reporting and handling mpox cases, the CHD said.
Belmonte called on establishment owners to cooperate and comply with the city government's contact-tracing efforts to curb the spread of the virus and ensure QCitizens' safety and welfare.
To streamline and strengthen its response to mpox, the city government has also established the QC Task Force MPOX through an executive order consisting of various city government departments and offices, she added.
