All 3 Zika cases in PH found in Iloilo City

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed yesterday that there are now three confirmed Zika cases in the country and they’re all in Iloilo City.

The DOH made the admission after two additional Zika cases were found in the same household as the 45-year-old woman who was diagnosed last September 5 as the first case of Zika this year and the sixth since 2012.

The DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau, which traced all three Zika cases, noted that this is the first locally-transmitted Zika case.

DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell Ubial said the mode of transmission was found to be through mosquito bites; ruling out sexual contact and blood transfusion as possible causes.

Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe, chief epidemiologist of DOH-6

in Western Visayas region, said that the additional two people with Zika virus were mainly asymptomatic.

They were not even hospitalized as they only had mild skin rashes, said Alonsabe.

Ubial said all three cases have now fully recovered from their mild illnesses and confirmed that none of them required hospitalization. Of the latest two Zika cases, none of the patients were found to be pregnant, she added.

Zika infection is characterized by fever lasting for two to seven days, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, pain behind the eyes, and vomiting.

Despite being a mild disease, Zika infection became a big concern because of the birth defect – called microcephaly – that is linked to it.

Meanwhile, Ubial is calling for a strengthened campaign against mosquito-borne diseases in order to prevent the increase in the number of Zika cases in the area.

A team of epidemiologists flew to Iloilo City from Metro Manila last week to gathered samples from the woman’s household and sent it to DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

They also conducted epidemiological investigation of 88 households in Barangay Benedicto, Jaro district.

Together with the two new cases, 10 more individuals were subjected to laboratory tests. The 10 people, who are contacts of the sixth case, have tested negative of the virus.

Ubial said they have already ordered the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, insecticides, and information and education materials to residents of Iloilo City.

Pregnant women and those planning to get pregnant are also advised to be vigilant.

“We advised pregnant women to maintain the mosquito nets even during the day so they can have continuous protection against mosquitoes,” said Ubial.