Amid zero case: Public told to remain careful vs Zika virus

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Health Office has advised the public to continue taking precautionary measures against mosquitoes even though the province is free from the emerging Zika virus.

PHO chief Cynthia Genosolango noted that the virus can be transmitted through a bite of an infected Aedes aegypti, which is the same species of mosquito that carries dengue disease.

She said what the public should be more wary about is the spread of the deadly dengue virus instead of the Zika virus since the latter is not fatal.

“The mosquito carrier is very much the same mosquito nga nagdala sa dengue which is endemic and is in our country,” she told reporters.

She suggested more efforts to eradicate possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes especially that the province is experiencing downpour for days.

 “And these mosquitoes multiply very fast during heat season,” she said.

Fortunately, no cases of Zika have been reported in the country and the province.

The Department of Health-7 earlier explained that Zika is a mild viral infection and self-limiting disease that patients generally recover within few days even without medication.

The World Health Organization declared Zika virus a “public health emergency of international concern,” noting the upsurge of cases mostly in Latin America.

 Genosolango further reminded pregnant women to be more cautious since they are more vulnerable to the virus, which might affect the development of the child inside the womb.

She said the virus is manifested by symptoms similar to those of flu such as fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Other symptoms are muscle pain, headache, itchy eyes and vomiting.

“Especially in the first three months of pregnancy,” said Genosolango.   She added that they are ready to intervene should there be suspected cases of Zika in the province.

Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center is among the six hospitals in the country that are designated as testing facilities for Zika virus.

Other hospitals include Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao, Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, and San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.  (FREEMAN)