"She tested positive for both strains of the virus" - A 45-year-old married woman from Iloilo City marked the first case of Zika virus in the Philippines confirmed by Philippines' Department of Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell Ubial.
ZIKA IN THE PHILIPPINES
Upon arrival at the local hospital in Western Visayas on August 31, urine and blood samples that were collected from the victim tested positive for Zika virus. The patient complained of skin rash and joint pains, which are common symptoms of Zika virus, but did not have a fever. Contrary to rumors, she is not pregnant, which saves her from the possibility of having a baby with birth defects like microcephaly (which is commonly linked to Zika).
DOH suspects that the virus was transmitted to the patient since she had no history of travelling to Zika-affected countries in the past two weeks.
WHAT IS ZIKA VIRUS?
Zika Virus is transmitted from the bite of an infected mosquito called Aedes aegypti, which is also responsible for other mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya. Aedes mosquitoes are usually active during daytime, but they can be also active at night. The virus can also be transmitted via unprotected sexual intercourse.
Pregnant women are among the most those who are in most danger when infected by the disease, since it can be passed to the fetus, and has been linked to a neurologic defect called microcephaly. Microcephaly is a congenital condition where the baby is born with an undersized head, which results in incomplete brain development and death. Unfortunately, Zika can't be treated since there is no available vaccine for it yet.
The most common symptoms are headache, fever, skin rash, joint pain, and red eyes.
Preventive measures range from wearing long-sleeved clothing, putting on mosquito repellant lotion, using bed net during sleep, using condoms during intercourse, community fogging, usage of larvacide, cleanliness in the surroundings, and not travelling to countries that has a reported case of Zika virus. Pregnant women should be especially careful.
ZIKA-AFFECTED COUNTRIES
Currently, there are 57 countries affected in past three months with widespread transmission, including neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam, and certain parts of United States of America. You can check the full list here.
GLOBAL AWARENESS
In response to potential pandemic status, USA President Obama requested for financial support from the government to battle the infection last February. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that there is dwindling funding for fighting and controlling the spread of the virus. In response to this, Florida GOP Rep. David Jolly had this to say: "If we can't get Zika funding by the end of September then we're nothing but a bunch of idiots up here."
An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. Be aware, vigilant and personal effort and there is nothing to be scared of. Lastly, if someone has a fever for two days, seek a medical consult for assurance.
