Iloilo mayor seeks DOH go-signal for local lab to handle mpox tests

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has requested permission from the Department of Health (DOH) for Uswag Molecular Laboratory to handle mpox testing in Panay.

The laboratory, which is trained and equipped but lacks test kits, could process samples more quickly compared to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), according to Mayor Treñas.

As of June 2, the City Health Office reported four confirmed cases and two others under close monitoring.

Mayor Treñas emphasized that delays in receiving results can lead to further transmission among suspected cases, noting that current turnaround times from RITM are stretching to several weeks due to the volume of cases nationwide.

The city health office continues to monitor mpox prevention measures and has been briefing a task force on the issue since Monday.