Mandaluyong on mpox watch

MANILA, Philippines — Mandaluyong officials are tracing and monitoring the close contacts of an mpox patient.

Last week, the patient manifested symptoms such as “fever, cough, chills and myalgia. His lesions are now slowly drying up,” May Villarina, head of the city’s epidemiology and surveillance unit, said. “The patient is isolated in his residential area.”

Health officials are tracking people who may have visited the patient’s condominium before the onset of symptoms, she said.

“One of his household contacts is isolated and has no symptoms. As for his other close contacts, we are still coordinating with the condominium administration to check visitors 21 days prior to the onset of his symptoms,” Villarina said.

Since the patient has no travel history, Villarina said casual sexual partners may have exposed him to mpox.

“We ask everyone to cooperate, practice the recommended preventive measures and avoid the spread of unverified information,” Villarina said.