Quezon City reports first case of mpox

MANILA, Philippines – Quezon City has recorded its first mpox (monkeypox) case, a week after the Department of Health (DOH) reported the country’s first case this year.

The patient, a 37-year-old male, is currently admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital. He started exhibiting symptoms on August 16, 2024 and got admitted to the hospital six days later. 

Medical personnel collected the patient’s specimen and was brought to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and tested positive. positive. 

Based on the initial case investigation report of the Quezon City Health Department’s (QCHD) Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (QCESD), the patient has a recent local travel history. 

“We are closely watching our resident’s medical condition.  So far we have identified all of his fifteen contacts and they are also being monitored”, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.  

Since the detection of the first mpox case this year, the city has activated its own prevention, control, and response protocols.

All healthcare workers in the city also underwent orientation in reporting and handling mpox cases. 

Belmonte also called on establishment owners to cooperate and comply with the city’s contact tracing efforts to curb the spread of the virus and ensure QCitizens’ safety and welfare.

To streamline and strengthen the city’s response to mpox, the city government has also established the QC Task Force MPOX through Executive Order 14 series of 2024, consisting of various city government departments and offices.