Department of Health confirmed six new Zika cases in the country, totalling to 9.
The Department of Health expects more infections to be recorded in the coming days, after the confirmed cases reached 9. The patients range from 9 to 49 years old.
On Tuesday, DOH said six more cases of Zika were reported this month of September, bringing the total number to nine.
According to the agency, the virus is spreading across three provinces.
Of the total 9 nine confirmed cases, seven patients are from Iloilo City, one from Cebu City, and one from Laguna province.
DOH Spokesperson Eric Tayag said all these patients are expected to recover soon after confined in the hospital.
On the first week of September, the DOH reported the first locally transmitted Zika infection for the year– a 45 year old woman from Iloilo.
Later, two more cases were reported, and they are females who are both from the same household as the first case.
According to Tayag, the additional four cases in Iloilo live 10 kilometers away from the previously reported cases in the city.
Tayag said pregnant women should consult with their doctors to ensure a safe pregnancy, after the increasing cases of Zika in the country. The Zika virus is linked with birth defects which includes microcephaly, a condition characterized by small brains and heads.
“Ang mga buntis na gusto magpa-test– sa prenatal visit ninyo magtanong kayo sa doctor kung kailangan ba ninyong magpa-test. Otherwise, use safe insect repellents at sa gayon mabawasan ang paglagay sa panganib,” advised Tayag.
Tayag further added that a national Zika action plan is in the go where the DOH is intensifying the capability of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for testing the virus.
The DOH disbursed P48M to buy 8,000 Zika testing kits, however, only those who show Zika symptoms — rashes, red eyes, joint pains and fever– will be tested for the virus.
Tayag made an explanation that the aedes aegypti mosquito – the carrier of Zika virus – is living throughout the country.
“Halimbawa may kaso dito, ‘di ba ‘yung unang tatlo, the same household yun. Hindi masabing active transmission. Parehong household eh. Ngayon, more than 10 kilometers, merong kaso, pero alam naming kagat din ng lamok yun. Eh isa isa. So hindi rin masabing active, kasi isa lang eh,” Tayag explained.