Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando has ordered city and municipal mayors, as well as barangay captains, to prepare temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for mpox cases.
This was after the province recorded two confirmed cases of mpox in San Jose Del Monte City, the Provincial Public Affairs Office (PPAO) said.
“We have nothing to worry about because the provincial government is doing everything to keep Bulacan residents safe from mpox,” Fernando said.
PPAO said the two mpox cases in the province, which have since recovered, were confirmed to have contracted the Clade II strain, a less severe variant of mpox virus.
It added the two cases were not linked to each other, and that all identified close contacts were asymptomatic and have completed isolation protocols as a precautionary measure.
Aside from the setting up of temporary facilities, Fernando also ordered local government units to monitor sanitation practices in private establishments and carry out public awareness campaigns to manage misinformation.
Hospitals were also reminded of their surge capacity responsibilities under national guidelines, requiring proper isolation rooms and beds to handle potential cases.
Mpox symptoms include skin rashes or mucosal lesions, fever, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat, muscle and body pain, headache and low energy.
To prevent possible infection of the virus, experts advise everyone to avoid skin-to-skin contact, have proper personal hygiene, conduct regular disinfection, wash hands regularly, and consult immediately with the nearest health center when symptoms persist.
