Quezon City to create task force on mpox

MANILA, Philippines — Following the detection of two more cases of mpox, the Quezon City government said it would create a task force to strengthen response efforts and minimize the spread of the viral illness.

Mayor Joy Belmonte will issue an executive order creating the task force.

The city government shut down a club for not allowing mpox contact tracers to conduct inquiries in the establishment.

On Saturday, personnel of the city’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Division went to Fahrenheit Cafe and Fitness Center (F Club) along E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue to conduct contact tracing measures, following the Department of Health’s instructions for possible mpox transmission.

City hall said the F Club’s management refused to cooperate.

“We consider the refusal to participate in our contact tracing efforts a threat to the health and well-being of our QCitizens,” Belmonte said.

“We are prompt in our response, but we got delayed due to the lack of cooperation,” she added.

Belmonte urged business owners to cooperate with the city government regarding mpox, which has been declared a global health crisis.

“We are doing our responsibility to ensure that all QCitizens are protected and safe,” she said.

The city government cited Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act, which prohibits the non-cooperation of persons or entities identified as having the notifiable disease or affected by the public health event.

F Club, in a statement, said it would suspend operations until further notice, based on the directive of the city government.

“Mpox preventive measures are taking place,” the club said.