The Quezon City government announced on Sunday, July 31, that it has laid down various measures in preparation for the possible detection of the monkeypox virus in the city.

“We have been closely coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) since May, when they reported an uptick of Monkeypox cases in other countries. The QCHD (City Health Department) is also providing us with weekly updates about the virus to make sure that we are ready to deal with it effectively,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“Laging nakahanda ang QC sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, mula sa equipment, guidelines, hanggang sa pagbibigay ng kinakailangang kaalaman sa ating mga health worker tungkol sa virus. Gagawin natin ang lahat para hindi makapasok ang Monkeypox sa lungsod at maiwasan ang pagkalat nito sa mga komunidad (QC is always prepared for such situations, from the equipment, guidelines, to providing the necessary knowledge to our health workers about the virus. We will do everything to prevent Monkeypox from entering the city, and prevent it from spreading in the communities),” she added.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, July 29, confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the Philippines.

It said that the first case is a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived in the country from abroad last July 19 and was reported to have prior travels from countries with documented cases. The patient’s gender was not disclosed.

According to the local government, the QCHD has developed a response mechanism in dealing with the virus pertaining to prevention, early detection, management of a suspected, probable, and confirmed cases, and contact tracing.

It said that doctors, nurses, and medical personnel from both public and private hospitals and health centers in the city underwent an orientation on DOH Memorandum 2022-0220 (Interim Technical Guidelines for Implementation of Monkeypox Surveillance, Screening, Management, and Infection).

The participants were taught about the necessary information on the monkeypox virus including the prevention of transmission to an individual, household, and community.

The local government said that its social hygiene and sundown clinics were also oriented on the definition, management, and infection control of monkeypox.

It added that hospitals owned by the city government - Quezon CIty General Hospital (QCGH), the Quezon City General Hospital, Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital, and Novaliches District Hospital - have designated isolation rooms for suspected, probable, and confirmed monkepox cases.

The QC Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (QCESU) also organized a monkeypox contact tracing quick response team, and ensured that personal protective equipment and other logical needs are enough.

The city also established protocols for detecting, specimen collection, sending of specimen to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and transporting suspected cases to hospitals.

Meanwhile, the city’s Public Affairs and Information Services Department (PAISD) was also tasked in posting artcards and information materials about the virus.

Residents were advised to adhere with the DOH’s Covid-19 health protocols as the monkeypox can also be transmitted to a person through close or direct contact.