Quezon City logs two more mpox cases, urges caution

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government confirmed its second and third cases of mpox, following the initial case reported last week.

The Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (QCESD) identified the second case as a 29-year-old male and the third as a 36-year-old male.

Both are currently under home isolation and receiving medical treatment, the Quezon City government said on Saturday, September 7.

The second case started showing symptoms, including a mouth lesion, on August 21 and was tested on August 28. His test came back positive on August 30. 

The third case experienced a fever on August 26 and developed a rash the following day. His test result from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) confirmed mpox on September 5.

“Hindi biro ang mpox. Malala ang epekto nito, lalo na sa mga taong mahina ang immune system kaya napakahalaga na tayo mismo ay mag-ingat para hindi makakuha ng virus, at hindi tayo makahawa pa,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.

(Mpox is no joke. Its effects can be severe, especially for those with weakened immune systems. It’s important for all of us to take precautions to avoid catching the virus and prevent its spread.)

Belmonte advised the public to practice frequent handwashing and avoid contact with individuals showing mpox symptoms.

The Quezon City mayor also urged those experiencing symptoms to seek medical help. 

“Kung may sintomas kayo ng mpox, agad nang pumunta sa pinakamalapit na health center o ospital para magpatingin. Hindi namin kayo papabayaan at handang tumulong ang lokal na pamahalaan para sa inyong mabilis na pagpapagaling,” Belmonte said.

(If you have symptoms of mpox, please visit the nearest health center or hospital immediately. We will not leave you behind, and the local government is ready to assist in your recovery.)

The QCESD has already started contact tracing efforts and is monitoring individuals who may have been exposed to the two patients. 

Two weeks ago, the city reported its first mpox case, a 37-year-old man, who is currently under home quarantine.

The Department of Health (DOH) has reported eight active mpox cases, all of which are the milder MPXV clade II strain. 

Since July 2022, the country has logged a total of 17 cases.

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Disclosure: Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte is a shareholder of Philstar Global Corp., which operates digital news outlet Philstar.com. This article was produced following editorial guidelines.