ILOILO City – Alarmed by the detection of four confirmed and two suspected mpox cases in the city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod is pressing the local government to mount an urgent, COVID-style response to prevent a wider outbreak.
Councilor Alan Zaldivar, chair of the Committee on Health, underscored the importance of early and aggressive action.
“While the cases are under control and the patients are stable, we must act with urgency. We cannot afford to be complacent,” Zaldivar said.
He and Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna urged the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) to revisit strategies employed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, including public disclosure of key non-identifying data to assist in risk awareness and contact tracing efforts.
Cabaluna emphasized that disclosing patients’ age, gender, and exposure locations — while withholding their names — could strike a balance between public safety and privacy.
“These are details which I don’t think violate privacy, as long as it’s for medical and prevention purposes,” he noted.
Currently, the CHO withholds such information, in compliance with Department of Health (DOH) protocols.
Mayor Jerry Treñas acknowledged the council’s appeal and said the city is open to improving communication without breaching confidentiality.
“We are following DOH guidelines, but we will also explore how we can improve public awareness and protect our people,” Treñas said.
As of late May 2025, DOH has logged 52 confirmed mpox cases nationwide — 33 in Metro Manila, 13 in Calabarzon, and smaller clusters in Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and Central Visayas.
Iloilo City’s four confirmed and two suspected cases raise concerns about possible local transmission.
The World Health Organization has classified the global mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern since August 2024. The Clade II variant detected in the Philippines is considered less severe but still transmittable through close physical contact, causing fever, rashes, and painful lesions.
“This is not to create panic, but to encourage vigilance,” Zaldivar clarified.
He and Cabaluna are calling for intensified surveillance, increased public information drives, and closer community involvement in monitoring potential symptoms.
“We’ve seen what happens when a virus spreads unchecked,” Zaldivar warned. “Let’s not wait for mpox to become a full-blown crisis. Prevention is still the best cure.”/PN
