DOH confirms 2 Zika cases in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - With two more Zika cases recorded in Metro Manila, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial sought anew the conduct of a massive cleanup drive to eliminate all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes. 

In a press briefing yesterday, Ubial said the number of confirmed Zika cases in the country this year has increased to 17 after two more cases were documented in the cities of Mandaluyong and Makati. 

“As of Oct. 13, we had 17 cases reported: 12 from Iloilo City and surrounding areas; one in Muntinlupa City, one in Cebu City, one in Antipolo City and the two new cases. They are all well and have recovered,” she said.

The case from Makati City is a 27-year-old woman who is not pregnant, while the one from Mandaluyong City is a 42-year-old man. Both patients had rashes, fever and conjunctivitis.  

When asked if this development is alarming, Ubial refused to answer, but said “the possibility of this virus having been in the Philippines before the outbreak in Singapore or South America was reported is already there.”

In an earlier interview, World Health Organization (WHO) country representative Gundo Weiler said they were not surprised to see Zika cases in the Philippines because it is a tropical country and mosquitoes are abundant.

According to Ubial, it was discussed during the regional committee meeting of the WHO Western Pacific regional office in Manila that “there is a possibility of endemicity of this virus” in the region.

“In the generic typing of the viruses, (it was found that) it is different from the virus that was discovered in South African region, as well as South America. So it is presumed (there is a virus that is) endemic in the Western Pacific region,” she added.

To effectively combat Zika, the DOH has been pushing for the 4S strategy: Search and destroy mosquito-breeding places; use Self-protection measures; Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

“We are now in our rainy season so our mosquito population is big. The 4S is the best strategy to bring down the mosquito density to prevent dengue, Zika and chikungunya infections,” the health chief said. - Sheila Crisostomo