• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Talisay City in Negros Occidental has recorded its first case of monkeypox (mpox), as confirmed Monday night by Mayor Neil Lizares.
The patient is currently in stable condition, under close medical supervision, properly isolated, and receiving appropriate medical treatments to manage symptoms, Lizares said in a statement.
The first confirmed case of mpox was recorded in highly urbanized Bacolod City, where the patient is also in stable condition, according to the City Health Office.
Lizares said that contact tracing and all necessary health protocols have already been carried out over the past few days, since the receipt of the patient’s sample who was suspected of having mpox, in order to prevent further transmission.
We assure everyone that the Talisay City Government is fully prepared to handle this situation, he added.
Mpox is a manageable disease, and with strict adherence to proper health protocols, we can effectively prevent its further spread. Lizares further said.
In a public advisory, health authorities urged sick individuals to seek consultation early, especially if they have a rash, and advised the public to avoid close skin-to-skin contact, practice good hygiene, not to share personal items, and to remain kind towards potentially sick individuals.
Mpox is a viral illness that spreads primarily through close and prolonged contact with an infected individual. Transmission may occur through respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions or bodily fluids, or through contaminated materials such as clothing or beddings.
Common symptoms of mpox include fever and chills, swollen lymph nodes, headaches and muscle aches, fatigue, with skin rashes or lesions, which may appear on the face, hands, feet, or genitals.*
