The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Quezon City (QC) has recorded its first case of mpox, almost two weeks after the Department of Health (DOH) announced the first case in the country for this year.
The patient is a 37-year-old male resident of QC who began showing symptoms on August 16. He was admitted to the hospital six days later and is currently being treated at San Lazaro Hospital.
A specimen was collected from the patient and sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), where the result came back positive on August 26.
The patient has a recent local travel history based on the initial case investigation report of the Quezon City Health Department’s (QCHD) Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (QCESD).
“Sa ngayon, mahigpit nating binabantayan ang kalagayan ng residente. Natukoy na rin natin ang 15 contacts niya at patuloy natin silang mino-monitor,” QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
The QCESD is also tracking the contacts exposed at the spas located in QC, visited by the first recorded case of the year, which has been temporarily closed by the city government.
QC has initiated its prevention, control, and response protocols following the detection of the first mpox case this year. Furthermore, all healthcare workers have completed orientation on handling and reporting mpox cases.
Mayor Belmonte also urged establishment owners to cooperate and adhere to the city’s contact tracing efforts to help prevent the spread of the virus and ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens.
The city government has also formed the QC Task Force MPOX through Executive Order No. 14, Series of 2024, which includes representatives from various city departments and offices.
