Quarantine center activated

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has activated the Cebu City Quarantine Center (CCQC) at the North Reclamation Area as an isolation facility for suspected and confirmed Mpox cases, if any.

 The CCQC had served as an isolation facility during the Covid-19 pandemic and served as a temporary and isolation home for health workers and other frontline responders.

 After the pandemic, a portion of the facility was also utilized as shelter for abused women and children.

 With the reported cases of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the country, the city government has decided to re-active CCQC as an isolation facility for this disease even if it is not needed yet.

Though no confirmed or suspected Mpox cases have been reported in Cebu City at present, acting Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, in a report by the Public Information Office, organized an interdepartmental task force at City Hall for it to come up with and implement measures, in the possibility that Mpox could reach Cebu.

Dr. Daisy Villa, City Health Department head, said that the task force will implement measures similar to what were initiated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aside from the CCQC, she said the CHD also prepared all barangay health centers and their personnel for the possibility of them accepting Mpox cases within their level.

Villa also urged the public to continue to be vigilant.

She said that what were followed during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly hand washing, constant disinfection, and wearing of face masks, can help prevent the spread of Mpox.

“Dili nato kalimtan nga ang pag-prevent sa spread sa disease is (through) handwashing. Of course, i-disinfect nato ang mga surfaces nga ma-touch sa tawo,” she said.

 "Of course, since magsige ta og ubo or in contact with someone infected, mas maayong mag mask nalang,” she added.

 Villa said Mpox spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has the disease. Close contact includes skin-to-skin and mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact, and it can also include being face-to-face with someone who has Mpox.

 Mpox symptoms often develop within three to 17 days after being exposed to someone who has the disease.

Symptoms of the disease include rashes, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy. These can be managed through antiviral medicines.

For those with Mpox symptoms, they have been advised to immediately seek medical attention and avoid self-medication.

 “Kung naa kay fever o’ bisan naa kay rashes o’ blisters, you really need to do the consultation. Pa-check-up na sa doctor aron ma-advise-san ka unsay angay,” Villa said.

She assured that CHD’s personnel would immediately secure samples from skin lesions of the person with suspected Mpox symptoms.The samples are then sent to the Department of Health office in Manila for verification.

A confirmatory test would yield results within 48 to 72 hours.

Villa said early detection of Mpox is also a key precautionary measure in order to prevent the spread of the virus to more people.

“Early detection could really help especially in diagnosing a disease,” she said. (CEBU NEWS)