THE Department of Health (DOH) adds three new Zika cases this week to the list of confirmed cases in the country for 2016.
There are now a total of 12 cases. All were reported in the month of September after tests conducted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Of these 12 cases, eight were females with age ranged from 9 years to 55 years. Ten of these cases were from Western Visayas and one each from Central Visayas and NCR. The previously reported case from Laguna (Calabarzon) was traced to Muntinlupa upon verification.
Among cases from Western Visayas, nine were from Iloilo City and one from Oton, just a few kilometers outside Iloilo City, the RITM report showed.
DOH Regional Director Marlyn Convocar said quick response teams were sent to affected areas to conduct case investigations and to recommend specific measures to prevent further spread. All patients have already fully recovered.
Iloilo City is carrying out indoor residual spraying coupled with fogging in affected and high risk areas to reduce adult mosquito density.
These measures were done only after search and destroy were made in the same areas in order to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
DOH reiterates its appeal to local government units to find ways and be very vigorous so that households are able to search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, commonly seen inside and around homes.
Pregnant women may use insect repellent or mosquito nets at daytime to avoid mosquito bites and potential Zika infection.
Zika can be mistaken for measles, dengue or chikungunya. A laboratory test is needed to confirm the cases.
Pregnant women should follow advice of their doctors with regards to risks associated with Zika and on ways to prevent Zika infection.