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Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas says the Uswag Molecular Laboratory has the necessary equipment and only requires test kits from Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The city government of Iloilo has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to authorize a local molecular laboratory to conduct local mpox testing, following a rise in confirmed and suspected cases.
As of June 2, the City Health Office (CHO) has recorded four confirmed cases. Two others are under close monitoring, said CHO head Dr. Mary Ann Poli-Diaz.
Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas said local health personnel were trained for mpox testing as early as 2022, when the first case in the country was detected. The Uswag Molecular Laboratory, he added, has the necessary equipment and only requires test kits from Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Inaugurated in 2022, the laboratory is located in San Pedro, Molo. It is a DOH-accredited level 2 biosafety facility recognized by the RITM with a 100% quality assurance rating. Initially focused on COVID-19 testing, it is one of the largest molecular laboratories in the country and is capable of diagnosing other infectious diseases using the same equipment.
“Considering that we are trained, we have the necessary personnel, as long as they have kits, we can test for the whole of Panay if necessary,” he said in a press briefing on Wednesday, June 3.
Treñas said that during earlier mpox outbreaks, results from RITM typically took three to five days. But with the current volume of cases nationwide, the turnaround has stretched to several weeks, delaying response and containment.
“If the results take time, people who are suspected can go around and continue to have physical contact with other people and continue to transmit the virus,” he said.
He also expressed concern over existing DOH protocols, which recommend only self-monitoring for asymptomatic but exposed individuals, along with hygiene practices and avoiding contact with vulnerable groups.
If the DOH approves local testing, Treñas said Iloilo City could offer testing services to other provinces on Panay Island.
Poli-Diaz, meanwhile, said none of the mpox patients in Iloilo had recent travel histories, although one had close contact with someone who had traveled. Some of the infected individuals are adults with comorbidities.
She clarified that the new cases are not close contacts of the first case reported on May 28, who remains in isolation and under observation, as skin lesions have yet to fully heal.
“All patients are in stable condition, currently receiving medical treatment and are under isolation,” she said.
Despite the uptick, Poli-Diaz said the situation in Iloilo City remained under control.
“I would define alarming if we have an increasing number of cases. We’re still waiting for additional reports from our surveillance and epidemiology unit. Hopefully, we won’t have any more cases,” she said.
While mpox is contagious, she said preventive measures can reduce the risk of transmission.
She added there is no current need to reimpose mandatory face masking, although she encouraged the public to wear masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. – Rappler.com
