VIDEO | DOH: Aggressively Clear Away Mosquito Breeding Sites (video)
By: Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com | JV Arcena, News5
February 1, 2016 4:45 PM
MANILA – Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette Garin is urging the public to aggressively eliminate possible breeding sites of mosquitoes as a measure to ward off the Zika virus.
The outbreak of Zika virus in Latin America, particularly Brazil, has been associated with an increase in the birth of babies with abnormally small heads.
Zika virus is spread by the bites of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes – which also cause dengue and chikungunya – that breed in clean and stagnant water.
According to Garin, DOH is waiting for the results of an emergency meeting called by the World Health Organizations in its headquarters in Geneva to discuss cures for the virus, which is currently gripping the Americas in an outbreak.
During the meeting, the WHO is expected to determine whether the outbreaks of Zika virus in Brazil and 22 other countries since May 2015 constitute a “public health emergency of international concern.”
“We will know the global classification of Zika by that time. What is important now is to be aggressive in cleaning surroundings and working double time to drastically reduce the population of day-biting mosquitoes,” she said.
But according to WHO, “a causal relationship between Zika virus infection and birth defects and neurological syndromes has not been established, but is strongly suspected.”
In a public health advisory, DOH said that infection by Zika virus is manifested by fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis, muscle pain, headache, pain behind the eye, and vomiting. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for 2-7 days.
As a complication, the DOH said the “baby inside the womb of a pregnant mother may develop abnormality in the size of its head due to incomplete brain development called microcephaly.”
“Avoid infection by preventing mosquito bites. Use insect repellants, use air conditioning or window/door screens, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants or permethrin-treated clothing,” it said.
The DOH added that, once a week, items that can hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys or trash containers must be emptied, scrubbed, turned, covered or thrown out.
“People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines. If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice,” it said.