Latest mpox case went to derma, had sex in illegal spa, says Mayor Joy

The person who recently tested positive for mpox (formerly monkeypox) virus went to a derma clinic and an illegal spa in Quezon City where he had close contacts, Mayor Joy Belmonte said Wednesday. 

In a press conference, Belmonte said 28 out of the 41 contacts of the new mpox case that were identified through contact tracing were placed in self quarantine and were being monitored by the QC Health Department. 

Among those quarantined were the masseuse and some other clients of the illegal spa, where the mpox case had a sexual encounter, according to the Super Radyo dzBB report of Christian Maño.  

According to Belmonte, she ordered the closure of the spa upon finding out that it does not have a mayor’s permit and other necessary documents. 

She also said that the new mpox case is not a resident of Quezon City. 

A quick response team has also been activated in the city to address the situation. 

On Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that the 10th case of mpox in the Philippines is a 33-year-old male Filipino national with no travel history outside the country “but with close, intimate contact three weeks before symptom onset.”

But the DOH on Wednesday noted that the latest patient has a milder variant of mpox, clade II, which caused the global outbreak in 2022. 

“Recent cases of mpox detected in the Philippines thus far are by MPXV clade II, with zero deaths,” the department said. 

His symptoms started with fever, which was followed days later by findings of a distinct rash on the face, back, nape, trunk, groin, as well as palms and soles. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries.

The DOH reminded the public “to be alert but not alarmed.” It encouraged everyone to clean their hands often with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitizer, and to avoid skin-to-skin contact. —With Vince Ferreras/KBK, GMA Integrated News