DOH: Early consultation important to prevent Zika virus, other diseases

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday advised the pubic, especially pregnant women to seek early medical consultation and medication if they see signs of Zika virus infection and other health threats such as dengue and chikungunya, among others.

DOH spokesperson Lyndon Lee Suy said seeking early consultation is important to prevent life-threatening diseases especially for pregnant women to protect babies in their wombs.

“Whether it be Zika or dengue or any other form, magpatingin kaagad lalo na kung pregnant (seek consultation especially if pregnant,” Lee Suy said.

Lee Suy said the DOH has been consistently reminding the public to improve their “health-seeking behavior” by avoiding self-medication practice and seeking medical advice from physicians. He added that only health workers or doctors are the only ones advised to decide on what medication for patients in order to prevent complications or worsening health reactions.

“We should not self-medicate because this may only worsen our condition, thus, making the cost of medication more expensive," Lee Suy said.

Lee Suy made the advise in line with the Health Department’s clean-up campaign to eliminate “Aedes mosquitoes” or the carrier of the Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses.

The spokesperson said it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the environment to prevent breeding grounds of disease-carrying organisms even if the Zike virus has not yet reached the Philippines.

Lee Suy also advised the public of the Zika threat which he described as more serious in terms of severity compared to dengue. He said symptoms of Zika include rashes, fever, influenza-like and conjunctivitis (redness of eyes).

He also warned pregnant women that Zika threat is alarming since it is capable of causing microcephaly or having small brains and shorter lives among babies born from infected women.

Lee Suy clarified that there is no clear evidence on these findings. However he emphasized that it is better to be protected from the infection.