ILOILO City – Health authorities here have raised concerns over a potential local transmission of mpox, as two new cases with no travel history or links to previous patients were confirmed, bringing the total to eight. But efforts to speed up the response are being hindered by a delay in testing capabilities.
Annabelle Blancaflor, head of the Uswag Molecular Laboratory, revealed that their request to conduct mpox testing locally has been pending with the Department of Health (DOH) for two weeks now.
According to Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, the two newly confirmed cases suggest that the virus may now be circulating within the community.
“These new cases are not linked to the earlier ones, and none of them had any recent travel history. That tells us there is already community-level transmission, which is concerning,” Fortuna said in a media briefing.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease transmitted through close physical contact with an infected person’s lesions, body fluids, or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash.
In total, 13 individuals in the city have been recorded in connection with mpox: eight confirmed cases and five others under investigation.
While five patients have already recovered and no new cases were reported in recent days, the possibility of undetected spread remains a public health concern.
“It would be better if we were allowed to conduct testing locally so we could isolate suspected cases right away while waiting for confirmatory results. Right now, we’re losing valuable time,” Blancaflor stressed.
In the absence of local testing, samples continue to be sent to Metro Manila, leading to delays in diagnosis and isolation procedures.
The City Health Office continues its contact tracing operations and has issued repeated advisories urging the public to avoid close contact with individuals who have visible rashes or lesions, and to seek medical consultation if symptoms occur.
Fortuna emphasized that vigilance and early reporting are crucial in stopping the virus from spreading further.
Local officials are calling on barangay health workers and the broader community to work together in reporting suspected cases to help contain the disease.
Early this month, Mayor Jerry Treñas said medical technologists of the Uswag Molecular Laboratory were trained on testing mpox specimens two years ago and the molecular laboratory is equipped except for the test kits.
“Considering that we are trained, we have the necessary personnel. As long as they give us kits, we can test for the whole of Panay (Island) if necessary. I hope DOH will listen to us,” he said.
The mayor noted that it takes time for the laboratory results to come out due to the long queue at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila, whereas it only takes two to three days if done at the Uswag Molecular Laboratory.
“You know, if it takes time, then people who are suspected will continue to go around, continue to have physical contact with other people, and continue to transmit the mpox,” said Treñas./PN
