‘Philippines can quickly diagnose Zika’

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has scientists who can quickly diagnose the Zika virus.

Carmencita David-Padilla, University of the Philippines-Manila chancellor and also executive director of the UP-Philippine Genome Center (PGC), yesterday said their infectious disease specialist team in UP Manila’s National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) has the diagnostic expertise for the Zika virus.

“Definitely, we have the capability to diagnose. Dr. Raul’s team has the diagnostics,” Padilla said, referring to Raul Destura, who heads the NIMBB.

Padilla made the disclosure in an interview at the Newton Agham Program of the United Kingdom government and the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology Awardees at the British ambassador’s residence in Forbes Park, Makati City on Wednesday.

Destura, who has developed a breakthrough technology for the quick diagnosis of dengue fever, said he has designed a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) detection kit that can diagnose the Zika virus, which has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The PCR detection kit for Zika is currently being put together in my lab,” Destura told The STAR in an interview. “The molecular probe is now being synthesized and the kit is expected to be ready for research use in a few weeks.”

Pinoy travelers warned

Meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Washington yesterday advised Filipino and Filipino-American travelers to be careful and remain vigilant when taking a trip.

The embassy issued the advisory after several areas in the US noted a significant spike in the number of patients infected with Zika virus since last month.

The WHO has so far not recommended the imposition of any travel, trade or screening restrictions related to the virus.

Members of the Filipino-American community were also told to know more about the Zika virus – its causes, symptoms, methods of transmission, preventive measures and confirmed cases – by visiting the WHO website. – With Pia Lee-Brago