ILOILO – The provincial government is actively preparing to implement mpox prevention protocols at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, in anticipation of the resumption of international flights.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. confirmed that direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong and vice versa would commence on October 27, with services running four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
On the other hand, flights to Singapore are scheduled to begin on November 25, operating three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, said Defensor.
Preparations are underway, including the potential deployment of a quarantine team at the Iloilo Airport to assess all international passengers.
Mpox, a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, presents symptoms such as skin rashes or mucosal lesions and can be transmitted through direct contact with the lesions, respiratory secretions, or indirectly via contaminated objects.
Accompanying symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
A coordination meeting involving the provincial government, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) – Iloilo, the Department of Health (DOH), the Bureau of Quarantine, and other concerned agencies is scheduled for September 3.
The meeting aims to finalize all protocols for handling international passengers, especially with the looming threat of mpox.
Until the commencement of international flights, Defensor said no quarantine team would be deployed, as all international passengers are currently undergoing assessment and screening at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila.
However, he clarified that although there is no active screening team at the Iloilo Airport currently, protocols are in place, including public awareness campaigns about mpox prevention.
Defensor emphasized the importance of maintaining caution, avoiding close contact with individuals showing symptoms of mpox, and practicing basic health protocols such as frequent hand washing, using alcohol-based sanitizers, and maintaining physical distance from those infected with mpox.
He also assured that the health facilities in the province are prepared to manage suspected cases of mpox.
The Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City has been designated by DOH Region 6 as the referral hospital for mpox cases.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for mpox, and the process for approving antiviral therapies is ongoing by the Food and Drug Administration.
Suspected cases are advised to undergo complete isolation for at least 21 days or until lesions and rashes resolve, based on criteria established by their attending physician.
So far, DOH-6 has not collected samples from suspected cases of mpox in the region, and no results are expected from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Metro Manila./PN