Paz not taking chances on Zika virus

CEBU, Philippines - Even if the Department of Health has declared Cebu and the country as Zika virus-free, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza asked residents to be mindful of their surroundings’ cleanliness at all times.

Radaza, in a news conference on Wednesday, warned her constituents of the risks the virus pose to human health. “The public should be aware about it,” she said.

Zika virus is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same species that spreads dengue and chikungunya viruses. These mosquitoes are found to be aggressive during daytime in tropical countries.

Dr. Sophia Mancao, acting assistant director of DOH-7, earlier said there has been no reported case of Zika viral infection in Cebu and in the Philippines, at least for now.

DOH said that cases of Zika virus were mostly reported in Latin America.

Mancao said Zika is not as deadly as dengue, as it is a mild infection that enables one person to recover even without medication. People who contract the virus are advised to rest, drink lots of water and take paracetamol.

However, further studies are being conducted to find out if the virus has adverse effects on fetal development among pregnant mothers.

Other studies are also trying to establish if the virus may be transmitted by sexual contact.

In the meantime, DOH has reminded the public to wear long sleeves and long pants, as well as to use insect repellent lotions and to keep the surroundings always clean. Doctor Terrence Anthony Bermejo, chief of Bureau of Quarantine-7, said that in their monitoring, no passenger passing through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport has yet been reported to have the virus.

MCIA does not currently cater direct flights to or from South America.

In some countries, however, international aircrafts have been sprayed with insect repellants as a sort of precautionary measure.   (FREEMAN)