Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 31) — The Quezon City local government said measures are already in place for the possible detection of monkeypox in the city.
The Philippines confirmed its first monkeypox case on July 29. The patient is a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived from abroad on July 19 and had prior travel to countries with documented monkeypox cases.
READ: What is monkeypox, and how can you stay safe?
In a statement, the local government said its Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) has developed a response mechanism in dealing with the disease, focusing on prevention, early detection, management and isolation of a suspected, probable, and confirmed case, and contact tracing.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte added they have been coordinating with the Department of Health since May after it warned about an uptick of monkeypox cases abroad.
“The QCHD is also providing us with weekly updates about the virus to make sure that we are ready to deal with it effectively,” she said.
The local government said medical personnel from both public and private health facilities also had an orientation, as prescribed under DOH Memorandum 2022-0220 to notify them about necessary information about the virus, and how to prevent its transmission.
“Social hygiene, and sundown clinics, as well as MSM community organizations, were also informed and oriented on monkeypox case definitions, management, and infection control,” it added.
The city’s Public Affairs and Information Services Department is also boosting public awareness by posting art cards and information materials about monkeypox.
Protocols for detection, specimen collection and transportation to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and transporting suspected cases to referral hospitals were also set, city officials said.
The city government-owned hospitals, namely the Quezon City General Hospital, Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital, and Novaliches District Hospital, have already designated isolation rooms for suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of monkeypox, they added.
The Quezon City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit has also organized a quick response team for contact tracing response, noting that personal protective equipment and other logistical needs for the purpose are sufficient.
Residents were also reminded to consistently follow health protocols set by the DOH against COVID-19, since monkeypox can also be transmitted through close contact with an infected individual, such as through body fluids, sores or contaminated items.
