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[av_heading heading=’DOH: Iloilo City may be declared Zika-free if… ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – If by the end of this month no additional case of Zika virus infection is recorded, this city may be declared Zika-free.
Since September this year, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 11 Zika cases in Iloilo City and one in Oton, Iloilo.
The last two Zika cases in the city were recorded on Oct. 5.
If within 45 days from the last recorded case no new Zika virus infections are detected, an area may be considered Zika-free already, said Dr. Marlyn Convocar, DOH Region 6 director.
“Hopefully, by the end of November, Iloilo City may be declared as such,” said Dr. Bernard Caspe, City Health Office chief.
All the 11 Zika cases in Iloilo City already recovered, he revealed.
The Philippines has a total of 35 Zika virus infections. Western Visayas has the highest number of cases at 12. Other areas with Zika cases are Metro Manila, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) and Central Visayas.
Zika is a milder infection compared to dengue, said DOH secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial.
Most of the confirmed Zika cases did not require hospitalization.
Patients tested with the virus were just managed at home, said Ubial. All of them displayed symptoms such as rashes, fever and joint pains.
The Zika cases were confirmed through the analysis of blood and urine of suspected cases at DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
The cases were all local transmissions and the vector was Aedes egypti, a day-biting mosquito that live and breed in clean, stagnant water.
DOH has repeatedly urged the public to practice the 4S strategy to combat Zika – search and destroy; use self-protection measures; seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days; and say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak./PN
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