QC reports 6th mpox case; issues closure order of F Club

Quezon City Mayor  Joy Belmonte presides over a press conference about MPOX surveillance in the city. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Government recorded another mpox case, the sixth individual to have contracted the disease in the city.

The patient, a 31-year-old male resident of Quezon City, tested positive for mpox after exhibiting symptoms on October 18. The results were released to the Quezon City Health Department’s City Epidemiology and Surveillance  Division (CESD) on October 31.

Based on the patient interview and case investigation report of the CESD, the patient visited the Fahrenheit Club (F Club), a bath house with fitness and entertainment lounge, on October 5.

READ: Quezon City reports first case of mpox

It is the sixth time that the F Club has been identified by patients as the possible place of exposure of the confirmed mpox cases.

On August 24, the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) issued a cease and desist order (CDO) to F Club for refusing to cooperate with the city’s contact tracing team and violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act.

A compliance order on September 27 was released to reiterate the establishment’s need to comply with local and national laws.

Despite the standing CDO, the BPLD received a new business application under the business name “F.I.N.E Wellness bar and F.I.N.E spa,” but sharing the same address and facilities with F Club.

The application is currently on hold after the inspectors’ findings. Prior to the confirmation of the latest mpox case, it turned out that the club resumed operation using the new business application.

“In the interest of public health, we are serving the closure order to F Club and this FINE Wellness bar and Spa.  Even if you changed your business name we will catch you until you comply with the laws,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“We will not allow further danger to other QCitizens and their Hindi namin hahayaan na marami pang QCitizen ang msafety and well-being of our QCitizens remains our primordial duty,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, to further curb the spread of the mpox virus, the city will hold a forum with spas, wellness, and entertainment establishments this week.

The CESD will discuss the city’s mpox protocols, while the BPLD will explain and reiterate the permits and documents that the businesses should comply with.