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TOTAL NUMBER NOW 17

Two more Zika cases confirmed in PHL


Two more Zika cases have been reported in the Philippines, bringing the total number of confirmed cases this year to 17 as of October 13, the Health department said Friday.

At a press briefing, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said the two new cases were from Mandaluyong and Makati cities.

She said the patient from Mandaluyong was a 27-year-old, non-pregnant female while the one from Makati was a 42-year-old male. She said both exhibited the usual symptoms of Zika, including rashes and fever with conjunctivitis or red eyes.

None of the 17 patients were hospitalized during their convalescence and have since recovered, Ubial said. All were locally-transmitted cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in their latest regional committee meeting with the Department of Health (DOH) that there is a possibility “of endemicity of this virus in the Western Pacific regions.”

“It is different from the virus that was discovered in South Africa, African region, as well as South America. It is presumed to be endemic in the Western Pacific region,” Ubial said.

The DOH is investigating the possibility that this strain was present in the Philippines even before the outbreaks in Singapore and South America were reported.

“We’re still trying to confirm that this particular virus was already circulating in the Philippines, but we have not tested for it before. It was only tested when the outbreak in Africa and South America just reported globally, so we started testing for Zika,” Ubial said.

Regional health offices reported 12 Zika cases from Iloilo City and neighboring areas, while Cebu, Muntinlupa, Antipolo, Mandaluyong, and Makati reported a single case each.

Ubial said the DOH will continue its strategy to reduce the mosquito population in the country. Aedes aegypti, the main vector for Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, is prevalent in the Philippines.

“[Use] insect repellents and insecticide-treated bednets if possible. Seek early consultation. We’re still offering free testing for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya to anybody who has symptoms. And say yes to fogging only when there is clustering of cases,” she said.

“Nasa rainy season tayo so malaki ang mosquito population natin. Bringing down the mosquito population is the best strategy to prevent our dengue, Zika, and chikungunya infections,” Ubial added. —KBK, GMA News

Tags: zika
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