The Iloilo City Health Office announced that it has recorded eight laboratory-confirmed mpox cases, up from six previously reported, with five fully recovered.

Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, city assistant health officer, clarified that the city has so far logged a total of 13 mpox-related cases, including confirmed and suspected cases.

“The total number of mpox cases is 13, including confirmed and suspected. We are waiting for five results from the RITM [Research Institute for Tropical Medicine]. Four earlier suspected cases tested negative,” Fortuna said during a press conference.

He urged residents who develop rashes to visit the city’s health centers, which are open 24/7, for specimen extraction.

He said the city’s molecular laboratory can also assist in extracting the specimen.

Those with queries can also get in touch through hotline numbers 0995-6382338 and 0908-2130980.

Ruvi Matulac, assistant regional disaster risk reduction and management manager of the Department of Health Center for Health Development in Western Visayas (DOH CHD-WV), said that there are two clades or types of mpox. Cases in the country are classified as Clade II or milder.

Matulac said test kits have been prepositioned in provinces, cities and DOH hospitals. Specimens are transported to RITM in the National Capital Region every Tuesday and Thursday.

Turnaround time for results is seven to 10 days.

The Western Visayas Medical Center can test mpox specimens, but lacks the necessary kits. (PNA)