ILOILO City – The Office of Mayor Jerry Treñas has condemned as fake news a viral social media post falsely claiming that Iloilo City has been placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) due to an alleged “Monkeypox Disease 2025 (MPOX 25)” outbreak.
The misleading post, which uses an old COVID-19 advisory design, continues to circulate on Facebook and has alarmed some residents.
City Hall clarified that the post is a deliberate manipulation of a legitimate 2020 pandemic advisory, and there is no truth to claims of a citywide lockdown related to mpox, a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
“This is clearly disinformation. The Facebook artwork in question was originally released during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been repurposed to mislead the public,” said Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, spokesperson of Mayor Treñas, in a statement released on March 31.
The mayor’s office verified with DYFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo, whose logo appeared in the post, that the material was indeed an old graphic, which has been taken out of context.
Authorities are now working to have the false post removed from social media platforms.
Wednesday last week, M ay 28, local health authorities went on heightened alert following the confirmation of two mpox cases in Iloilo — one in Iloilo City and another in Iloilo Province — both involving patients with no recent travel history, prompting concerns of potential local transmission.
In separate announcements, the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) and the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) confirmed one laboratory-verified mpox case each, with contact tracing and surveillance operations immediately launched to prevent further spread.
Fantilaga-Gorzal reminded the public that official announcements from Mayor Treñas are only released through verified platforms: his official Facebook page “Jerry Treñas,” the Iloilo City Government, and the Iloilo City Health Office.
While acknowledging the importance of staying alert amid health concerns such as mpox, City Hall emphasized that there is no community quarantine in place and no cause for public panic.
The Iloilo City Health Office continues to monitor the health situation in coordination with national agencies.
“We urge everyone to be responsible digital citizens and stop sharing unverified content. Let us not fan unnecessary fear through fake news,” Fantilaga-Gorzal stressed.
Mpox symptoms typically include fever, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and a progressive rash that turns into blisters.
The virus is primarily transmitted through close physical contact, respiratory droplets, or contact with contaminated materials.
Although there is no specific treatment for mpox, symptoms are typically self-limiting and can be managed with supportive care.
Friday last week, May 30, the lone confirmed mpox case in Iloilo Province was declared fully recovered by the IPHO.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the PHO, said the patient has met the recovery criteria set by the Department of Health (DOH).
“Based on our latest assessment, the mpox case is now considered recovered. The patient’s lesions have completely healed,” Quiñon said.
She added that the five household close contacts — revised from an earlier report of nine — are under home quarantine and are expected to complete the 21-day observation period by June 12.
“None of them have shown any symptoms, but we continue to observe the standard protocol until the end of the quarantine period,” Quiñon said.
Under DOH Memorandum 2024-0306, patients with mild and uncomplicated mpox symptoms may undergo home isolation for at least 21 days from the onset of symptoms until all lesions have healed and scabs have fallen off.
Quiñon reiterated the importance of preventive measures, advising the public to:
* Practice proper hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs;
* Observe respiratory etiquette such as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and washing hands immediately afterward;
* Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, handrails, and tables;
* Avoid close physical contact, especially intimate skin-to-skin interactions, with individuals showing possible mpox symptoms./PN
