DOH Says RITM has Only 1,000 Testing Kits for Zika Virus
By: Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com | Leilani S. Junio, Philippines News Agency
February 3, 2016 1:38 AM
MANILA, Philippines – There are only 1,000 testing kits for Zika virus at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa City and therefore these cannot be used “just for anybody,” the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing, DOH Secretary Janette Garin said the testing kits will be used only for people who are manifesting fever for two days, have rashes, body pains, conjunctivitis and history of travels to any of the 29 countries reporting Zika virus cases.
She said that based on the recommendation of the World Health Organization, the development of new diagnostics for Zika virus infection is now being prioritized to facilitate surveillance and counter measures.
“Äng contribution natin dito, kung meron tayong stocks, huwag nating abusuhin. Huwag nating gamitinright and left dahil ang priority ngayon ay ang 29 countries,” she said.
The 1,000 testing kits have been at the RITM prior to 2012 when the DOH documented a 15-year-old boy from Cebu City as the first Zika virus case in the Philippines.
Garin added the DOH had requested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia for more testing kits and the agency is sending 1,000 more in two weeks’ time.
The RITM will provide training to other hospitals on how to use the testing kits using polymerase chain reaction machines. These are the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, and San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
According to Garin, private hospitals and other health care facilities have been instructed to report to RITM any possible Zika virus cases.
She added that the health workers of such facilities will be trained to enhance their laboratory capabilities for handling of testing kits that will be used not only for identifying and confirming of possible Zika cases but also for documenting the cases of Zika virus that can possibly enter the country.
Results of said documentation will be later forwarded by the DOH to the CDC in Atlanta, USA.
This as Garin had reiterated the call to use ‘4S’ against Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. The 4S means Search & destroy mosquito breeding places, use Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than 2 days, and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak.
“The first step to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is within our homes. We should not only remember the information being delivered by DOH to the communities. Instead, let us make it a practice and instill cleanliness in our surroundings. It is not only your family that will benefit from this habit, but the entire community as well.” she said.
She said that traveler’s screening is ongoing through the filling up of health declaration checklist of those arriving from countries where zika virus infection and other infectious diseases exist.
“Do we screen patients at the airport? Yes, kasi ang screening niyan ay kapareho ng MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona visus) at bird flu,” the Health chief added.
She also said that the DOH continues to closely coordinate with other government agencies and encourages vector (mosquito) control in the community levels by participating in cleaning and maintaining the environment vector-free.
She said that the best way to be protected from the disease is by really keeping the environment clean and destroying the breeding sites of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that can possibly transmit the Zika virus.
“Let’s go back to basics; we always say that prevention is better than cure. Prevention should start from our home. Make 4S a regular habit and participate in cleaning activities initiated in our community. Kalinisan at kalusugan. Makiisa sa kalinisan ng ating komunidad, ang kalusugan ay responisibilad ng bawat isa.” she added.
Currently, there is no available vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection and there is no available medicine to actually treat the infection.
However, the symptoms of zika virus disease can be treated with the common pain and fever medicines, resting and drinking plenty of water.
In general, the symptoms of Zika virus infection are manageable, and in comparison to dengue, the latter is more severe.
The Zika virus became a worldwide concern after the World Health Organization (WHO) convened on Monday a meeting and declared it as public health emergency or concern.
Health experts agreed that a causal relationship between Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly (a condition where the brain of the baby is not fully developed and small) is strongly suspected, though not yet scientifically proven.
They also agreed on the urgent need to coordinate international efforts to investigate and understand this relationship better.
The experts also said coordinated international response is needed to improve surveillance such as detection of infections, congenital malformations, and neurological complications, intensify the control of mosquito populations, and to expedite the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines to protect people at risk, especially mothers during pregnancy.
According to Garin, there were documented reports of 4,180 microcephaly cases as of Jan. 22, 2016 in Brazil.
She said that from the 512 cases that were tested, 44 percent showed the possible indication or relation to Zika virus infection while 55 percent were ruled out.
“In the Philippines, we did a review for the past 10 years of cases of microcephaly. The total cases of microcephaly cases in the country for the past 10 years was 332,” she added.
At present, according to WHO, the most important protective measures against Zika virus infection are the control of mosquito populations and the prevention of mosquito bites in at-risk individuals, especially pregnant women.