By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
The country’s first case of mpox in 2024, a 33-year-old male patient with no travel history, visited two establishments in E. Rodriguez, Quezon City, according to Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday.
“He is not a Quezon City resident. However, he patronized two of our establishments: isang dermatology clinic kung saan siya nagpatingin at isang massage spa para magpamasahe,” Belmonte said in a press conference.
Belmonte said the spa, which the patient visited last August 11, was illegally operating with an expired business permit after it failed to secure a license from the mayor’s office for the current year.
“Wala rin silang ancillary permits katulad ng sanitary permit, environmental clearance, and fire inspection certificates,” she said, adding that the establishment was immediately closed by the QC government.
Before his spa visit, the patient reportedly experienced the onset of fever on August 8.
Other symptoms like the presence of lesions on his face, arms, trunk, back, and genital area, were observed upon his consultation in the said dermatological clinic last August 15.
He was then subjected to specimen sampling for mpox, with positive results released on August 18.
The local government, meanwhile, assured the public there’s “no reason to be alarmed” as it formed a quick response team to ensure stringent contact tracing and monitoring to prevent the further spread of mpox.
Quezon City reported 41 contacts of the mpox-positive patient, with around 28 individuals considered Type 1 contacts.
A contact may be considered Type 1 when there’s direct physical contact with skin lesions or sexual contact from the mpox-positive patient or confirmed animal case.
“Iyong masahista na directly humawak doon sa pasyente, and then about 27 other clients, kinonsider nating type one kasi hindi natin ma-determine allegedly mayroong sexual encounter na nangyari doon sa spa,” QC-City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Head Rolando Cruz said, adding that three spa employees and four clients are from QC.
The 28 Type 1 contacts will be subjected to 21 days of quarantine to avoid transmission, he added.
Meanwhile, the 13 individuals were either advised to not report to work or observe strict self-monitoring, as they fall under Type 2 and Type 3 contacts.
Type 2 contact is classified when there’s direct contact with a positive patient’s body fluids, while Type 3 contacts are individuals sharing common space with the patient.
To date, no symptoms have been reported among the 41 contacts of the said patient.